Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-11-29

toward a street car, leaving the oyster
shucker to mourn the loss of his COM
pany.
There is a certain establishment in
the downtown district where the eater
of oysters sits on a high stool and
gulps down his portion in it's natural
state. They do not cook oysters They
simply select your game and open 1t.
The proprietor was sitting a a little
unornamental counter when the search
er found him. He decided to be less
abrupt than he had been in the case
of the oyster shucker.
81 hear said the searcher, that
there are such things as pink oy sters."
Course there are said the proprie-
1t was the reporters turn to be sur
prised.
Ever see one?" he asked.
Sure" said the proprietor.
"Where?" asked the reporter.
"'In a oyster COCKTAIL" said the pro-
prietor.
"Oh"' there was keen disappointment
in the reporters tones.
where else did you think you'd find
'emo" inquired the proprietor.
II meant in their natural state, ex-
planned the reporter.
"Somebody has been kidding you
son." declared the proprietor in plying
tones
"Do YOU, as a man of judgment. think
the Department of Agriculture is en-
gagged in the occupation of kidding peo-
ple?'' asked the reporter vehemently.
The proprietor was -adamanttne.
You're being kidded," he insisted.
4
Retiring from that place the reporter
met a man Who is noted for the hours
he does not keep. He has seen every
sunrise for years ana years, and at
2:30 o'clock each afternoon the occu-
pants of the fiat next to his bachelor
apartment are annoyed by his febrile
cries for a message. This man cannot
be shocked. He is so used to shocks
that it is practically useless to try to
astonish him.
Did you ever see pink oyster?''
asked the reporter
Sure" replied the man about town,
many times. I remember the time
when I was in an institution for nerv-
Gus persons. l made pet out of one.
Cute little fellow he was. He had a pair
of long horns and tail that was spear
shaped at the end and small arms and
legs, just like human being. He
would sit at the foot of my bed for
hours and hours and sing to me-"
The man about town shook his head
reminiscently and sadly.
HE didn't stay long, though he
concluded. when l got better he went
away"
Il wish you'd stick to facts" said
the reporter holly. This business of
having humorously inclined persons
evade direct question was getting
tiresome. l have the authority of the
bureau of chemistry of the Department
of Agriculture that the pink oyster ex-
lists. 1t has regular oyster shell and
it is edible. l ask you whether you
have CHANGED upon one in a restaurant
and you drivvle to me about your I'M
mentionable experiences"
The man about town regarded the re-
porter with an injured air.
Il did what 1 could to help you out"
he said with dignity. "If you're going
to get sore I'm going away"
Discouraged, but still determined, the
reporter kept on his way. What a
laundering job Columbus must have
had.
Nearby was one of those little lunch
rooms which announce that they serve
oysters stewed, fried, etc. Going into
this place, the searcher made his way
to a rough counter behind which a
stocky young man with a shock of pig
bristle hair was conversing with a
seedy-looking man.
DO you handle pink oysters here?'
he inquired.
The young man eyed him disinterest-
eddy.
Say, bo," he asked, do you shoot it
in the arm or snuff it?'
Never heard of 'em, did you?" asked
the reporter.
This here is a oyster house, not a
art gallery" remarked the young man.