Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-01

xxK n ISTER, please buy a pack OIL
M chewin' gum
1t was a ragged, tousle-head-
ed newsboy who spoke-one whose ap-
peararce was such that he seemed
almost to have stepped from some stage
instead of along Pennsylvania avenue
where. as is generally known. neWsboys
are always far more tousled and monde
script than they ever are in real HE.
Mister, buy a pack of chewin' gum" the
voice continued; II amt got no father
In cold type the plea seems rather pitt
full. But as a matter of fact it did not
sound pitiful at all 1t was spoken in a
nasal whine that somehow did not seem
real. Also it was spoken a bit too quick
Iy. 1t gave the impression of having been
repeated over and over again that same
evening. And SO, the man to whom 1t
was addressed turned away and not only
would not buy, but looked utterly dis
gusted.
Il just got back from a brief trip to
England a few weeks ago" he remarked
as he looked disapprovingly at the re-
treating back of the chewing gum vend-
en- 'They have no child gum vendors
over there, but they have super
abundance of children with all sorts of
schemes and tales to coax pennies from
Your pocket. And every one of them
would spurn such plan as that young
ster just tried. They would put over
something newer and something brighter.
lover here we are fond of attributing
to ourselves practically a corner on all
the wit in the world. Without wishing
to offend any one, it must be admitted
that Americans are an essentially conceit-
ed race, particularly in their opinion OF
their brains. And Americans are espe-
cially proud of the wit of their street
urchins. Talk to any man from any city
and he will probably be able to relate
score of clever bits of repartee and
evidences of keen business sense on the
part of the gamins who infest his par
ticular downtown section selling papers,
gum candy and what-not or. mayhap,
frankly begging pennies, ostensibly for
a bed or for a sick mother-but in reality
for the sole purpose of buying cigarettes
and a ticket to some moving picture
show. And there is no denying the fact
that some of the schemes contrived by
these youthful American panhandlers are
clever in the extreme.
Even at that, though. my experience
has been that they have considerable to
learn from their little cousins across the
water. Over in London the youngsters
have ways of coaxing pence out of your
pocket that are marvels of ingenuity and
freshness. AS q matter OF TACT they are
really impairment but their impertinence
is made manifest in such kiddish. naive
fashion that one can't, for the life of him.
be offended-or even refuse to be
taken in
whenever / think of the London street
samin l think of Bret Harte's famous
line regarding the Heather Chinee, of
whom, you remember, he said that for
ways that were dark and tricks that
were vain he was peculiar.
II had typical experience with two of
these London urchins shortly before 1
sailed for home. had been walking with
a friend along the bank of the Thames.
and we had stopped near the famous old
London bridge to talk with bobby
He was telling us of some of his ex
periences when out of the blackness of
the night shrill little voice OF a cock
ney street gamin rose.
Say. Jerry, who's Their guys down
there he asked.
Evidently the question referred TO my
friend and myself. l turned to look. and
finally, through the darkness. made out
two ragged youngsters perched on a high
shelf of the bridge. 1t was too dark to
see plainly, but could actually feel them
Grfnning. While looked the other smoke