Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-22
their wives dress without clothes. Truly
truly a marvellous age"


And so into Congress went the Observer
and The Man Who Knew George Wash
ington-
They arrived i'll the House gallery just
in time to hear a Iong-haired, long-armed
member of Congress bleating wildly for
few million dollars for extra fortifica-
tons. There were half dozen sleepy
members who were listening to the
| harange. Outside the door an attendant
snored softly.
What of George Washington" yelped
the long-haired member of Congress.
| waving his mop forensically. Suppose
| he were to return to earth today? Would
| he countenance this delay, this hesitat on,
| this failure to provide for our country's
| needs"
The Observer, turning to ask the ven
cradle spirit what he thought George
Washington would say, was startled by
| the CHASTITY pallor that had come over the
ghostly face. The spirit seemed stricken
with palsy.
why are not the rest of the members
here?' he cried why are they not
brought in? Is war this imminent"
What war;" gaped the Observer.
You heard him ask for s2,oooooa.'
cried the spirit, in mortal anguish. rs
not that a sign that the invader must al
ready be upon our shores? To arms, To
arms
In his excitement the aged spirit had
arisen, walked to the gallery rail and
stick. 1t was lucky thing that he was
invisible or both he and the Observer
would have been chucked out.
ITO arms. To arms cried the spirit.
RIOT" replied the Observer. Come
outside and cool off,
The unresisting old phantom went slow.
ly out of the gallery, rubbing his fore
head. as if he feared his senses were
leaving him.
.'Methnks you hold me foolish" he said.
pathetically. No doubt the coinage has
changed. Tell me, young man, are
100000 still 100000 poundss'
of course replied the Observer.
"And 10000, 600 francs?" quavered the
spirit
Certainly" replied the Observer: "and
also s456, 1872 10000 in Mexican revolu-
tionary money. What of it,"
Heaven moaned the spirit. Il am
undone,"
Il can take you to place where you
can fasten yourself up If"
Cease thy absurdities,'' commanded
the spirit. land tell me of this
SO the Observer explained briefly how
times have changed, and what 1t costs
to run the army and navy these days.
not to mention the civil war pension roll.
Slowly the phantom became calm.
But / cannot forget he murmured,
that had Gen. Washington had this
sum he would have ended the revoIu-
tionary war three years before it
closed"
Then he expressed desire to go
about the town: said he wanted to see
the spots SO well known to him in other
days.
The town" to George Washington's
friend meant Georgetown. and SO the
Observer put him on a street car-pay-
ing only one fare-and the pair started
west. The buildings seemed to awe
the spirit-or maybe twas the motion
of the car-ana he sat very rigid and
silent merely turning his head from
side to side.
They visited the different houses in
Georgetown where George Washington
had visited, gazing at them from the out
side. And then the restless spirit eX-
pressed q desire to see the Monument.
The ride in the elevator proved terrify-
ing to the aged phantom. He covered
against the sides of the car.
This he quavered, must be the feel
ing of an office-seeker'
He wouldn't explain, further than to
say he had a weak feeling in the pit OF
his stomach.
A group of tourists were glarine
frenziedly out of the windows when the
acquaintance of Washington and the
Observer reached the top. Far below
spread the wonderful panorama-Poto-