Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-12-23

~ II ~ ed the UNI, as we
T.: !" ::
III paused in the bust
" ~. ness heart Of Penn
NJ mi sylvania av IN e
III and gazed on the
II brilliant scenes on
r.,.../ every side. "Tak-
ine the evidence that the eye points out
right here, one could believe that all the
worlds a merry, light-hearted child to-
night. Still we may see bit Of the other
side before we finish our little tour"
The Owl and myself had dropped off a
blind baggage in the yards at Union sta
ton an hour previous. Our pockets were
as empty as our stomachs. We had no
Christmas shopping to attend to, and the
Owl, so dubbed because of his college ed
ucation and keen learning on many SUBJ
jects, had suggested that we drift about
and see how the people of Washington
were putting in their hours. Now we
stood watching the sights so familiar dur
ing the three days just before Christmas.
From end to end the Avenue lay bathed
In brilliant lights shining down on a
scene pulsating with life and merriment.
That wonderful indefinable something that
comes with the Yuletide season was in
the air tonight, making the heart beat
faster and the eyes shine brighter. All
about us was a world of happy faces.
The old Grand Army man, with the empty
sleeve, seemed to have been touched with
the magic wand of the season and trans
formed into q boy again, as he placed q
number of coins in the hands of the tiny
chewing gum vender on the corner. And
surely that dear old lady with the kindly
smile and white hair was dreaming of
other days as she dropped her offering to
swinging at the curb. We stopped in
front Of a large department store, where
thousands OF lights twinkled forth their
invitations to the outside multitudes.
Lets go in here and take a peep be-
hind the scenes" suggested the Owl. The
next moment we were caught up on a
wave OF humanity and swept on to the
center of a surging mass of shoppers.
swayed toward the long counters that
lined and refined the large auditorium.
And there behind the counter were the
tired little shop girls. running back and
forth In their epdless endeavors to wait
upon every one at the same time. No
smile Of Christmas joy lowered about
their lips. The look in their eyes told of
the extra work that the Christmas sea-
son had brought into their days and
nights. Most Of them were children-chil-
dren who. later, when the streets are
silent. will wander out to their own little
worlds to sink tired heads on pillows and
dream of when Christmas is over, when
such things as a days work of fifteen
hours and surging, insistent crowds be-
long to the past.
Downstairs we got a look at the de-
livery department. and stopped to marvel
at the scene. The clerks were fairly
smothered beneath q mountain of boxes
and packages. Hatless and coatless, they
worked like an army Of ants at the great
masses before them, but in spite of all
their efforts, the mountains OF bundles
continued to grow in Size
GOSH remarked the Owl. They've
sure got a job on their hands. If 1t Is
like this now. what Will 1t De on Nnrlst-
mas eve? Come on, let's go upstairs
We glanced in at the cashiers WlndoW
as we fought our way toward the door.
Several young women were penang over
counting great piles of coins, while others
were snatching little boxes on the wires
and shooting them back to the counters
again. A sharp-looking man pushed past
us with his right hand gripping a wom-
ans arm. The woman was pleading tear
fully but the man paid no attention as
he led her up the steps to the office.
Another shoplifter," said the owl.
She'll spend her Christmas In prison
Once more we were out on the streets
with the stars above us. Just ahead OF
us a band of Salvation Army workers
were holding forth on the corner. We
Joined the little knot Of people that sur
rounded them. A young woman wearing
eyeglasses was pleading to the crowd
cheer to the unfortunate. She told of the
baskets Of good things they were gong
to send out to the poor on Christmas day
and Of the great Christmas dinner they
were going to give to the homeless ones.
There was a ready response from those in
the crowd. and the lassie was fairly
showered with quarters and dimes One
of the girls started g. song of the Christ
Child This was followed by prayer,
and we stood with barred heads as the lit
for the outcast.
Good work." muttered my companion.
''If one could follow the trail OF
those dimes and quarters he would see
some mighty interesting things. Soon
they will join other dimes and quarters
and in some lassie's pocket Will make
their journeys to the markets and the
toy shops. Then in the shape Of many
good things they will travel out to people
on the edge Of things. On Christmas day
theren be Joy where there was misery
and smiles where there were tears Per-
haps you and I, with many hundreds of
our kind, will gather in that hall on
Christmas day and have a few bright
hours in q weary year. and all because
girl stood on q corner and made 1t pos
sible."
Lets run over and see how Uncle
Sans mail clerks are making out,
suggested. as the, Post Office building
doomed UP in front of us. Here we found
another testimonial to the activity of
Santa Claus. The long corridors were
crowded with eager, package-laden peo-
pie. The stamp window seemed to be
the center of magnetism. and the man in
charge Of 1t looked like he had been
through a wreck. His eyes held a des-
perate look. and every now and then he
glanced to his rear, as If contemplating
escape He was still sticking to the job
as we passed up the corridor. At the
general delivery window a young fellow
seemed to be having terrible time of
1t with an elderly woman. There was a
long line of people behind her, but the old
woman ignored their growls OF protest
and continued to upbraid the. clerk be-
cause a Christmas package from an alb
sent son was not on hand. The clerk
was politely trying to reason with her,
but it could be noticed that the old
woman was taxing his patience.
IT dare you to veil Merry Christmas to