Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-25

heart The shop windows. abiaze Will
light and beauty. beamed forth their
messages of the wonderful fairyland de-
lights to be found within. The shrhi
cries of the toy vender chordseo WITH
the hoarse tones of the Greek fruit mer-
chants. The small boy with the Dig norm
and the little girl with the feather ticker
Joined efforts in singing the song OF
Christmas cheer.
Over across the way Center market
doomed up out of its background oi
shadows Here withered old negro NAM
mics, surrounded by great piles OF CHRIST
mas trees, bent low over their wood nres
and bargained with the belated purchaser
over some choice bit Of evergreen. Ana
ever and ever they pulled on the stems
of their corncob pipes.
hundred yards from these scenes OF
ioy and comfort the heart of the UNDER
world of Washington is reached. Here
no brilliant lights dispel the gloomy
shadows. The song that pleasure is sing
ing across the way reaches here as a sub
1ued hum of another world Shadowy
forms fit silently by you in the darkness;
This is the world of Outcasts, the Worlo
of failures And mirth has but little
that go to make up their miserable nVes-
This is the home of the derel1cts. the
battered hulks of humanity drawn down
in the sea of strife. always hunting TOT
the harbor they can never find. A nVe-
cent hummer of whisky, 'handOut
from some generous housewife and cot
in a 1O-cent lodging house lends Christ.
mas eve it's only touch of the unusual
for them. the driftwood Of the city. That
scene of Christmas cheer across the way
belongs 10 another segment of llfe
We stood the corner of tth ana T.
streets and gloomily surveyed the crowds
Spuds was blue. Things had not been
breaking good for him that afternoon
lie had worked the Avenue from the
Capitol to 9th street with little results.
He had even faxed a crippled hand, and
but two dimes were the total result OF
his tale of sufferingS from hunger. These
Spuds had foolishly invested in three
RUNNERS of whisky and a package OF
''dopes'' tcigarettes). brief excursion
into Market space later I'm the evening
had brought no reward, and now Spuds
was meditatinS on some plan that would
bring little change into his pockets -.
NO use. kid; this is some bum burg.
lie remarked. as he gave his tattered
trousers another hitch. The bulls are
TOO wise. Why, there must be dozen
plain clothes mugs over there in front
Of the store They piped me off as soon
as struck the street. One of them told
me to beat il while me shoes were good
Well this is Christmas eve and, believe
me, it's too chilly Tor plank In the lum-
per yards. I'm going TO cop some coin
il l have to tap guy on the sky-piece
10 get il. Me and you are going to be
bloated bondholders tonight and sleep in
:: real bed. Wen have to cough up ten
meg (cents) for cot in the mission, so
we'd better get busy. Come on.
Spuds paused as we reached 10th street
and cast speculative eyes Oh young man
who was approaching in our direction
with unsteady footsteps. Dangling from
the young mans right hand, head DOWN
wards and trailing in the dirt, was q
large turkey. all ready for the oven.
AS the young man reached the corner
his load seemed to get the better of him.
He lovingly embraced convenient tree
and vanly requested it TO join him in
Just one more.
Spuds motioned for me to stay in the
background. and slid forward.
Say, mister" he said. could YOU help
a poor guy out? I'm hungry / Amt
had a thing to chew for three days. Give
us a dime. won't your
The young fellow, after a mighty eff
fort, managed to brace himself with one
hand against the tree. He stared at
6puds with an air. of grave sympathy.
Once or twice he opened his mouth to