The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-02-02
BY DOLLY DALRYMPLE

ooAlc way VI tHCn WoNit4
4 \ bother her on the street." said
Big Brother Jim. you look like guy
in that short skirt, Betty
''Any fellow will start Irritation II
he can Its up to girl to ignore
him." put in Brother Bill.
.'Giris' clothes today are not respect
able" said the Old Bachelor Uncle.
They show every line of their fig
ures''
"Are you sure it wasn't because you
stood in front OF the show Window"
questioned the fond mother.
I'm my time no gentlewoman walked
on the streets unattended" said Grand
mother.
only when your mother can go with you."
said Father.
Betty flushed crimson.
Her voice sliarpened by excitement in
telling of her encounter with a "masher"
downtown the afternoon before, took on
a higher pitch, and did not resemble her
usually sweet tones, at all
That's the way it always is" rhe
cried. Your family never blames any
body but you. tell you l never saw the
man until he spoke TO me. 1 only stopped
a minute before the window to look at
some waists. He knew that he frightened
me out of my wits, but he kept right
on. There isn't a thing about my old
blue dress that Is queer. It's horrid, OF
YOU to say that, Jim. Mother shouldn't
allow you to do so. She blames me, too.
! Betty wasn't of the fearful variety, but
she was crying now.
You certainly did something to attract
his attention., Aunt Letitia pursued the
advantage, remorsely. mo one ever
speaks to me on the street.
'well, Letitia, they might, and you'd
never know 1t. You know you don't see
even your friends unless they almost
take you by the shoulders" Betty's moth
er broke In hastily, fearing the retort
obvious and then turning to her daugh-
ter, said: eI'm sorry if i've hurt your
feelings. was only wondering how 1t
happened
I'm sorry, too. sis,'' said Big Brother
Jim. ut makes fellow so mad to think
his sisters been insulted, that he isn't
responsible for what he says
Eyes, but none of you says anything
against the man. Betty pouted. You
all seem to be trying to find some ex-
ruse for him when there isn't any. He
just knew he could bother a girl Who
was alone She needn't pay any atten-
lion to him. or wear clothes that attracr
attention, to be annoyed by that type
Of men,.
.'Fellows sometimes make mistakes,
granted Jim. but the way women dress
with their tight skirts. elbow sleeves
Ind Dutch neclSs and all that, its enough
20 make a man insult them"
Just speaking to a girl doesn't hurt
her, was the asseveraton from. Brother
rom, aged 10. and meant to contribute TO
The general job of cheering Betty up.
But
Conscience suddenly gave Tom 'jab
Ind certain events OF the late afternoon
before took Kaleidoscope change in his
minds eye.
L He recalled one of the busiest corners
y a this big town.
He saw the line Of thin little shop
girls hurrying by group OF fellows
absolutely at their mercy.
Every fellow was ogling and eyeing
hem, and the poor little creatures only
hurried along the faster.
Perhaps they were really frightened as
lis sister Betty had been
Batting girls on street corners. wasn't
my kind Of sport for manly fellow
do-row was 1T?
<omehow he had never seen 1t in this
<siat before.
There they were-before his eyes-ili-
| rf bt,,r
| ty congregated on corners of the town
ne loafing, careless, ne'er-do-well. lot of
men, with nothing to do but embarrass
Helpless women and girls!
He went over the lot Of them--the Diff
krent types.
He analyzed them as 'mashers.''
The question came to his mind:
Why il the .masher?'
And them
Why-again
There he saw the type generally known
u the tough moiIycoddle."
He's not vicious
No
Certainty not.
He's too slothfIi and indolent for that.
He's one Of those dear boy effects.
Comes down town in the forenoon,
hunterine along the street like near
bsllionalre.
He's mothers boy. don't You know:
He's got 20 cents in his pocket.
That means ear fare down town and
nck again. with 10 cents to spend having
Il devil Of time the rest OF the day.
He ''conned'' that 20 cents from hts
COR old mother and now he's going to
1T busy.
He walks into soda water joint and
nth mis- hat pulled down. over his ears
nd his cigarette in the corner Of his
kouth he Gays to the sado water finger:
Gimme 1 dope. Htrcng- Make II
tsono. - dish Of mint. won't hurt"