Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-07-24

sit the tree-shaded banks and watch
hundreds OF dainty little canoes that are
drifting lazily by or moving swiftly in
the face of welcome breeze which stirs
the occupants to greater activity.
Households tie up along the shores and
carefree people in them, defying mosqui-
toes as less fearsome than the heat of the
town. go to bed without even a glance at
the thermometer.
The many boat clubs are popular with
young people who prefer to share the
heat to enduring it alone. Whenever
there is chance at a fish some solitary
huddled in the shelter of the bank.
patiently mopping his brow and reaching
for bait. confident that he is far cooler
than the sWeltering ones at home.
Down in the markets ancient cOlored
mammies and serving men. now turned
hucksters, swathe their heads in green
and clammy leaves that have first been
moistened. This is to cool the fevered
brow and prevent sunstroke. The cross
ing policeman eases his helmet back as
far as is discreet and manages to keep
his coat buttoned and unbuttoned at one
and the same time-a feat peculiar to the
crossing policeman. 1t is not because he
aims to shine as trick artist, however.
but because he is endeavOring to keep
cool.
The rear end of an Ice wagon is
favored spot for all small boys who roam
the streets at will They do not need a
course in atmospheric conditions to know
that it is cooler there than on the last
step of a conveyance for hot bread; and
their rapid dives fer remnants are
amusing to one who watches from a cool
er eminence.
Public fountains are freely patronized
by both man and beast, and men carry
to seem monotOnous. The deluded INK
who believes that a handkerchief stuffed
between the neck and the collar cools the
former and prevents the latter from wilt
ing go about thus decorated and trying
not to look conscious.
I'D at the Capitol all the cumbersome
draperies which made summer unbear-
able to the senator's have been removed,
and, now that everybody has gone. the
building is being made delightfully."- cool
and sanitary looking, with fans buZzng
and floors aglow and all office windows
darkened.
There never was summer In Wash
ington, it seems when 80 many well
dressed men went about in the evening
sans coat and hat and Waistcoat and stiff
linen collars. Even downtown during the
day men are appearing in soft shirts
with neck accessories the same. at places
where this was formerly thought too in
formal a. procedure.
The much-daunted water wagon makes
frequent trips through the dusty streets
scattering fine mists of wetness alike on
the pavement and the pedestrians. But
there isn't growl. Urch!ns love dearly
to get in the focus Of the sprinkler and
receive an im0romptu bath at which
mother cannot scold. The hokey-pokey
man does a boom-town business and
even the man who sells coal in winter
is evidently trying to make his place
cooler by putting out conspicuous
ice sign these days.
The band concerts at Fort Myer and
in the nearer public grounds attract
many people. The advertised automo-
bile trips to inspect nearby real estate
tempts folks who never expect to own
enough ground to build a one-room
bungalow. The air is as bracing to
them as though they owned the car,
so they go to get cool and dream and
come back and are satisfied to let
some one buy the property or have the
pleasure of repairing the machine
People sleep out OF doors all nights
in the parks. or until told brusquely
to move on; on door steps, in area
ly, the ever-growing foreign element.
And they eat watermelon on the side
walks and grow more and more care
less of displaying the innermost secrets
of their lares and penates to the pass
erby-for over and above pride and
reticence they put the job of trying to
keep cool.
The gardens where orchestras blare
and a regular potpourri OF humanity
gathers for a sandwich or a supper, are
so filed with people hunting GOODNESS
and recreation simultaneously that
often perspiring ones line the walls
waiting for a chance to sit down. Rich
and medium, dignified and the reverse
compete for the same vagrant breezes
for heat levels all distinctions.