Evening star., 1914-08-23


others who are
dedicated to the principles of peace sut
beyond certain general regret TOT f-u-
rope he cannot be effusive. 1t is nlpos-
sible. For the embattled farmers of Lex
5ngton have nothing on the American
ci+izen TODAY when it comes to definite
ade-in-th.s-country' appreciation OF
the horrors of war.
Where the passions of Europe were IN
famed. the American wholesalers mag
nation became afflicted. Not only olo
;. suffer infammatory rheumatism, but
{, also got a touch of dropsy as we'll
and syelled up until ii looked like
TOY balloon.
All over tile land-in Washington as
we'll as everywhere else-cones the moG
OF the wartime COW. II IS lreliZleu
moo utterly different from the same
noise made by the same COW in times. OF
7Ieace. And mingling with It Is the say
age bleat Of the wartime sheep-not tne
old sheep we used to know. put a mn,
tant outstanding creature. hard TO cater
and completely changed as far sts hanlts
and disposition GO Occasionail5' too,
at twilight one hears the om1noUs Wnire
of the wartime egg as II scars my
circumambient space and is lost IN the
sncircling blue.
:. i .....
on a certain memorable occasion oio
King Midas dit was King Midas, WASH
tn uttered fearful roar when, or
helping himself to dish of cabbage. ne
discovered that it had turned to gold.
Now. If it had turned to gold after
he had eaten 1t he wouldn't have beer
surprised-at least he wouldn't if ne
had experienced the Observers sensa-
tions after a hearty meal of cabbage II
was the brutal. callous disregard of the
essential laws of nature that broke MIN
all up
King Midas rnared. What would he
have dore il he had faced our pre-
MISUNDERSTANDING to death in the midst
Of plentv-having gold turn to food and
food turn to gold whenever either Is
touched with "the dear people, beloved
of all politicians. losing all the time?
war is an awful thing. The OBJ
server has learned this fact. This
question of jump in prices IS an
ominous thing. 1t is no joke:
The Observer never realized the true
meaning of the frayed phrase nor,
rors of war until he made rouno
back a shattered wreck and rushed
for his dinner lest the German cap
ture of Whinkydoodle or the F'rench
invasion of Gollywhokus should nave
caused somebody to confiscate 1t.
He started forth an optimist. He re-
turned a jaded pessimist. And this is
the reason why
The gentleman who goes in for hard
ware in a small way was standing dis
piritedly in front of his place OF busl-
ness He was in his shirt sleeves, which
were rolled up to permit the ostenta-
tious display of seven or eight inches
of red wooden undershirt covering a
lank, ungainly arm. He famed him
self with a battered straw hat. His
lean. brown, wrinkled face was mask
as he watched. in an impartial way
the unloading of a coal wagon tsome-
body getting ready for the war prob
ably) into a capacious cellar hole. He
shifted his quid and spat judiciously.
When the Observer approached this
dignifed persopage the latter took not
the slightest notice OF him. The OBJ
server made pretense of examining
some nails which reposed in a small
keg. Then he dropped three hammers
deliberately and in succession. The
dignifed parsonage turned.
"Thinkin' o buyin' something" he
wanted TO know.
II might" replied the Observer. "i'