Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-08-28
Around the CITY

A soldier was on picket duty. His
kahki legs seemed to go by clockwork. SO
automatically regular did they pace up
and down the silent green place where
he was alone on guard.
Not once did he miss step, not once did
he give comfortable hitch to the gun on
his shoulder.
Left-right; left-right. he marched up
steps forward. then the military twirL
Then SO many steps back. Then do it
all over again.
And a woman who was watching felt
that she could understand-at last-how
an army could sleep with only picket TO
guard it-and how men dare follow where
ever a flag led the way.
Then she wondered whether to laugh
because OF the fun -..ere was in it or TO
cry at its pathos, for
The soldier was street tadde In vel
low cotton knee pants with fence palins
over the shoulder Of a raggedy shirt. His
face was thin and dirty and intent. and
the hanS that gripped the paling was
nothing less than a claw. But in the soul
Of him was the spirit that had the max
ing a Victoria cross.
And the woman left him marching I'm
the twilight-left-right: left-right, up and
down the weedy bit OF lot with a tree in
the middle of it-so many steps forward,
then the military twirl Then so many
steps backward
Then all over again.
An unusual sort Of woman was about to
leave a car. II was a new car and its
seats were so high in the air that as
the passengers climbed up to them their
efforts would have made a star feature of
a comic supplement sheet.
The unusual sort of woman made elab-
crate preparations for her departure.
First she caught the attention of the
conductor; then she arose from her seat,
raised her hand and turned slowly
around: then she called out with a loud
imperativeness that commanded the in
terest of every passenger in the car:
Il want you folks TO take notice of
what do, because l may need you on the
witness stand before I'm through. You
driver. do you hear me?"
AS the car had stopped and the man at
the crank was as motionless as II he were
blue granite instead of blue cloth, the un-
usual sort of woman must have taken il
to mean that he heard. for she went on:
IF you start this car before / get off
I'll sue you for damages and prove il by
these people. ] want you to understand
I'm no daddy long legs"
She landed in safety. to the hilarious
enjoyment OF the passengers. and when
she had waved permission for the car 10
resume its duties the motorman NOV
ed on.
A small girl with blue curls stood on
tiptoes to drop letter in mailbox.
She was not necessarily Blue Beard 5
daughter. however for her hair was not nat
urally blue. Neither was il curly. II was
being what mothers call trained Perhaps
some festive delight Law in the young per-
sons immediate future. for her hair had
been roped i'm spirals around what seemed
from head to shoulder with bright blue
rags. And then let flow" That was all
there was to it, and yet
IL isn't every day one may hope to see
outside of fairyland a small girl with
blue calico curls.
A man in a buggy was driving down
the Avenue. As his horse clipped over the
asphalt. people on the pavement grinned
and some OF them paused to turn and
stare. Strange men called out laughing
EXPLANATIONS 10 each other in passing
and couple OF bicyclists followed the
buggy in line.
And this gust of excitement. was raised
just because one wheel of the buggy had
come off. and the driver. having placed il
In the buggy was making for the near
est sta BILE
Which tiny incident helps to show that
Puck knew his little book when he cried
out, What fools these mortals be-
At the neckwear department:
Il have such time getting ties to suit
me-
The vail might have been voiced by a
girle-gIrl with nothing better 10 do in
,, life than pick out pretty things to wear
but II wasn't a girlie-girI
~ was big. muscular, midde-aged
man. who looked as If railroad ties wer-
more IN hrs line than the soft blue silk
| thinS he was comparing with another OF
salmon pink.
Funny old world, isn't it?