Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-24
Babylon of Old 0utdone
at the Northeast Station

Babylon itself was outdone at the station
at go H street northeast this morning.
Several races and all classes were repre-
scented among the youthful fly killers. If
the flies of Washington could have seen
the eagerness and determination ex-
pressed in the 300 or more young faces
they would have thrown up the sponge"
and left for a better climate.
From babes hardly able to walk to girls
who We're about ready to give up dolls
and boys who could show great agility on
the bicycle as we'll as with the "fly swat
ter" there was but one thought-'Swat
the fly" Almost dozen youngsters had
been waiting at the station for boxes be-
fore O clock this morning. BY 10 o'clock
the steps leading into the office where the
coveted boxes lay were filled to a point
where they seemed In danger OF breaking.
About the steps were a large number Of
boys and girls who could not crowd onto
them. And around every corner in an al
most ceaseless stream came still more
and more who aspfred to join the ranks
Of the fly killers.
Pandemonium Breaks Loose.
When 1t was announced to the
children outside that the boxes were
to be distributed pandemonium broke
loose. Each was pushing and showing
for fear the supply Of boxes might
give out. AS an abundant supply was
on hand. however. nothing OF the sort
happened, and each child eventually
got box Besides this, circulars show
ing the evils of which the little pest
is capable, and postal cards which
bear similar information. were dis
tributed
After the distribution Of the boxes
and literature" of the campaign. the
Youngsters were arranged In group
and photographed. Though all had
promised, and even expressed desire,
to have their picture taken, SOS 1t
would be in the paper" 1t was only
with much difficulty that a photograph
could be secured, so anxious were the
children to "get busy" killing files.
Elders Wave Encouragement.
The sight Of such a. large number Of
BOYS and girls grouped together brought
many adults to see what was going on"
From the cars passing along H street
numerous faces turned toward the chill
dren and smiled and hands waved en-
couragement from the windows to the lit
tie soldiers in the campaign for hyless
city. The youngsters in return waved
back and shouted
During the wait for the hour OF distri-
button the old rule Of physics that two
things can't occupy the same place at the
same time was literally smashed to
smithereens" The remark passed that
fly had lit on the bare head OF one of the
boys Instantly his head was covered
with a dozen hands and three ny swat
tiers. What became Of the fly Will PROB
ably remain a mystery. 1t was lost,
dead or alive, in the excitement.
Each Of the children seemed to be con-
fdent that he would win one Of the
prizes An inquiry to that effect brought
forth 2 chorus Of Sure: Bet your boots;
well, I should say so," and other re-
marks of the same tenor. When the
photographer announced that the pictures
were taken the youngsters rushed OF In
| a hundred different directions, each to a
special place OF his own. where he be-
! lieved there would be plenty OF flies. Up
| the street and down the street. however.
came a few belated youngsters for ''fy
Boxes .-..--.s--.-44---.