Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-10-15
Frequenters of Public Reading Rooms.

there. I call them Damon and Pythias.
They are actually inseparable. II one
should show UP without the other. you
may be sure it will be only for few
minutes. They are regulars. and have
been for as far back as 1 can remember.
The especially Manufactured man has. IT
seems to me. face like a medieval Ital-
ian. and. although they may be relations.
there is certainly no similarity of personal
appearance between them / have en-
countered them often in other public
places-museums, art exhibitions and the
like-and they were always together
Our friend yonder, with his back to-
ward US. has thick head Of hair in cool
weather. while he is quite bald In sum-
mer Yes the reason for the transforms
ton is quite plain. indeed, he wears wig.
I believe this circumstance led to the un-
doing of a friendship which 'Wiggy-l
call him thus, trusting 1T is not too disre-
spectful-formed with another elderly IN
dividuai some time ago The latter gen EN-.
who sported beard of noble proper
tons. was also near-sighted, insomuch
that, while engaged in reading, the top
of his nose almost grazed the printed
page He had spoken with his friend OF
the wig, had turned again to his book.
but soon lifted his head to make re-
mark. 1t was a very warm day, ana the
gentleman with the wig had. In the prier
interim between their converse ton, re-
moved his artificial head covering. Wha.
was the amazement of the other when he
beheld his vis-a-vis so strangely and sud
IDENTITY Transformed! I never saw man
eyince establishment so strongly. He
started in his chair. and almost fell over
backward Then I noticed the posses
sor of the wig hold that article up IN an
explanatory, though rather shamefaced
metamorphos's. while the expression of
the other gradually altered from its spas
modic character to one. l fancied. or
some anger and pique. as though he cid
not Ielish being startled in that manner,
wig or no wig.
The weather being changeable at the
time the owner of the deceptive cranial
appendage would sometimes wear 1t,
while. again. he would discard it, accord
ing to the atmospheric conditions. This
manifestly puzzled his reading-room ac-
quaintance. and finally eXasperated him.
inasmuch as he was observed to actually
avoid the man Of the wig. Such is the
transient nature OF all sublunary things.
sometimes ] have observed what I be-
lieved to be very pathetic occurrences in
a. reading room. On one OCCASION for eX-
ample. l was sitting near an elderly lady
of very meager aspect and attire, when l,
in company with others i'm the vicinity,
wss startled to hear a groan followed by
heavy thud. The unfortunate woman
la0 ldIe1 u Tie iioOT, dLu, d. HefpeC 10
raise her up. ! was afraid she was dead.
But she soon revived and refused all
proffered Assistance to her place of resi-
dence. Clearly, thought ], a case of des-
titution of the most acute character. and
of a pride which refused assistance and
even shrunk at any knowledge on the part
Of others OF the lamentable state of
things. What was my surprise shortly
afterward to see this lady walking along
the street we'll. not to say somewhat gayly
attired, as her bonnet or hat was adorned
with ribbons of bright hue.
overcoat and stiff. high-crowned hat
near me. and number of books were
brought him. The volumes were Of huge
size, and when piled up the desk In
front OF him they completely hid the man
from view of any one In front. From the
recesses Of his big hat this singular speci-
men Of the casuals-for 1 never saw him
again, and conclude that he belonged to
that Observation-Disclosures out three eggs,
the contents of which he absorbed in a
manner which indicated that they were
raw. The eggs had evidently been kept
from breaking by being imbedded in a
huge handkerchief. which played a useful
part in the gastronomic performance l
have described. After his al fresco meal
the man laid his head on the edge OF the
desk, behind his pile of books which he
never touched, and went sound asleep.
His slumberS continued until the closing
of the room for the night, when. being
awakened by an attendants he took his
departure.