Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-03-28

It. She is fooling somebody. II is really
only herself. but she likes even that, and
whenever she appears al the general de-
livery window she bushes and giggles and
gives herself away in various ways. ON
the surface she is amusing. but 10 the
experienced eye she is far more pititul
than funny.
The letters she gets are usually from
somebody she has met in a clandestine
fashion. That kind OF man suggests the
general delivery frequently. because he ia
saving his own skin. The breed always
thinks of a possible brother or father who
may upset his plans with stick or a
gun.
When she gets her letter-and she Is one
of those who usually get letters at the
general delivery Office every time they
call-she bushes a little more, sticks II i'm
her mum and goes away 10 read II else
where.
Other feminine fools there are. too. who
patronize the general delivery-middle
who are glad to receive masculine atten-
ton at almost any cost. They. also.
give themselves away and are far too silly
TO be interesting.
Regular patrons Of the general delivery
are the unfortunate women of the town
whose last vestige OF responsibility is
evidenced by their desire that their home
folks should know nothing Of what they
are doing If they gave to their families
their real addresses some one. familiar
with the location Of the different sections
OF Washington. might give them away So
they have their mail sent to the general
delivery. To the folks at home they are
hard-working women. employed in de-
partment stores or restaurants near the
post office. and they can get their mail
quicker from the general delivery office
than if it Is sent to their residences.
s.
The busiest days for the general deliv-
cry clerk come during hard times. When
men get out of work the tide of letters at
the special delivery increases. Regular
addresses grow TO be luxuries and remit
tances from home are eagerly looked for.
Washington Is often the Waterloo OF
broken-down Office seekers. They land
here in the hope OF getting Jobs. Per-
haps they have accepted compaign prom
ises al fictitious value-campaign prom
ises usually have no intrinsic value
and hunt up their congressman in Wash
ington. Week after week goes by and
still no job. Their resources dwindle.
Step by step they move down the scale
OF living until they find themselves in
the cheapest OF lodging houses. They
don't wish their friends to know their
real condition. SO they have their mail
sent 10 the general delivery.
As for crooks. they consider the gen
eral delivery good asset, but somewhat
risky. If crook comes to Washington
and the police of other cities tip tile
Washington police OFF about him he has
TO be careful about going TO the general
delivery window. If he has an accom-
plice or an acquaintance here he sends
him. If he goes himself he stands fair
chance OF being arrested.
Frequently professional crook will
drop off in Washington just to see how
things are going. AS soon as he gets
here the Washington police hear about
him. and as soon as they locate him
they tell him to move on. II there is any
evidence that he is working" they ar
rest him. If not. they quietly warn him
to pick some other city as the scene OF
his activities. escort him TO the railroad
station and tell him to beat II. The gen
eral delivery window is favorite place
with the police from which to trace the
travelling crook and give him his walking
papers.