The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-07-01
TALK OF THE TOWN.

TALK OF THE TOWN.
No surer or safer proof that summer
is here can be found anywhere than In
the appearance OF the famous Peacock
Alley at the New Willard.
The oppressive heat mag be a remin-
der that summer is here. but a single
glance at Peacock Alley is eonvinc-
ing proof Of the fact Stripped of its
heavy draperies and rugs, the ALLEY"
presents an invitingly cool appearance.
with its marble floors and white linen
| upholstery. Even these changes might
be overlooked, were the famous resting
| place not quite so deserted.
| Gone are the opera parties. Gone are
the Senatorial parties that usually are
/ found there. Gone are the convention
delegates with their endless chatter.
| Gone are all but few of the regular
habitues OF the ALLEY" who drop IN af-
ter a strenuous afternoon in the F street
| promenade. All are gone. Peacock Al
ley is deserted. Surely summer ''has
came"
|
/ Probably one OF the most forceful ex-
amples of American freedom and the
! fostering OF the true democracy is given
at the White House Lot, or what Is Of
heially known as the Executive Grounds.
There is always a baseball game in
progress in good weather within the So
called sacred precincts" and numerous
other frOlics going on; children rolling
hoops over the lawns. boys playing mum
bly-peg." others playing tag. and so on.
All this occurs within earshot and a
stones throw from the Executives apart
ments. Yet there is no one 10 say them
nay or spoil their pleasure
In another country. though, the "ordi-
nary fellow runs up against an array
of guards and heavy official atmosphere
that discourages any attempt at getting
familiar with the rulers grounds. This
is particularly so in the Latin-American
republics. where should one dare to show
too great an interest in the palacio del
presidente or tarry too long in its vicin-
ity, he is discouraged with profuse
display of a bayonet, behind which is a
rurale trying 10 look sufficiently ferocious
| enough 10 suit the occasion.
on the other hand, the visitor to the
4 White House has practically free run
OF everything except the absolutely pri-
vate apartments of the President.
Free lunch In a barroom near the
Treasury is a fixture and is taken as a
matter of course by patrons. according
TO the proprietor. This man conducts an
elaborate counter, and at 1880 p. m. makes
an extra effort to please the clerks. They
come in. order a drink. and then eat
! their fill
It's a regular habit with some Of
them. the proprietor says. The other
day. after taking his lunch. a regular
patron approached the proprietor and
demanded angrily:
What the dickens was the matter
with that soup to-day. Mr.. Blank? II
was something fierce" Then the patron
walked out, feeling somewhat hurt, may
hap. because his change was not re
funded.
Women of Washington are confirmed
bargain hunters. even In the smallest
things. according to several street car
conductors
Did you ever see a woman pay a cash
fsre?" one of the bell-pullers asked
| well. you very rarely will The extra
ticket in the six-for-a-quarter bargain
sale gets them every time. Watch here.
he said, as three women boarded the
car.
Two OF the women were together, and,
after the usual argument about who
should pay the fare, each dropped q
ticket in the box. The third woman
brought a dollar bill from the recesse!
1 OF a huge handbag. handed II 10 the
conductor, and said, Tickets, please"
So it went down the entire line. Mer
passengers would usually pay the cast
fare. but nine times out of ten a woman
would have OF purchase tickets. Bar
gains will get EN-" said the conductor
as he turned 10 get out tickets for a
woman boarding the car.
=
Hes the hardest man to understand
you ever saw" casually remarked q
traveller yesterday.
/ Who's that?'' the reporter asked. with
true bueolic simplicity.
why. the train announcer at Union
Station" came the reply.
It's not his fault, however" con-
tinued the traveller. HThe vast dome in
the waiting room makes it nigh impos
sible for passengers TO hear what's doing
in the train line. l sat there yesterday
morning for half an hour, and all
CLEANED from his talk was the fact that
| Train number something-or- would
leave on track what-you-call-it at some
time o'clock.
The train announcers here are some
what different than in other big cities
1t seems that their talk is as premedi-
tated as indlstinguishable. Here the mar
tries hard. but the construction Of the
building is against him. But at that, he
does get of his speeches with a rapIditS
and strenuosity that would lead the
stranger to think he was really getting
away with *.
= = =
Old Man Tar was on the Job yesterday
and particularly at his headquarters. Al
Union Station, where he presented al
visitors with a tenacious souvenir.
An apparent effort has been made t.
eradicate, or at least to minimize, tht
nuisance with a generous sprinkling Of
sand and dirt over the whole of the
entrance to the station. but the tar hobs
up Just as serenely as ever
The use OF sand has developed a sec
ondary nuisance. The tar. adharing tC
the soles and heels Of hundreds OF walk
ers. collects a goodly covering of sand
which is in turn carried out over tn,
floor of the station and the sidewalk;
thereabout.
CHANGE DATE FOR CARNIVAL