Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-05-09

Now. don't you think that's quite
maddening'" asked one of the guides
who had had an extremely trying hour
and who informed her co-workers that
she had had that question put to her
at least six times that day.
Why should it necessarily follow
that because man and woman are en-
gagged in the same line of work they
are married? ! felt obliged to tell them
that personally l believed that if they
were married they wouldn't be work
ing so amicably side by side.
Sometimes woman will ask. after
glancing over the room filled with hun
dreds of men and women:
do these folks ever marry
What would prevent them from mar
rying If they so desire? But tourists
are determined to think that the per-
sons employed in the bureau differ
from other individuals. May they speak
to one another they ask in awed
whispers, as though the printers were
convicts instead of workingmen.
"'Are many interesting romances
started here? sentimental youths ana
maidens ask. their faces lighting with
interest at the expected reply. AS we
have not the time to weave pretty bits
of romantic fiction in order to satiate
their curiosity. they are sadly dlsap-
pointed when we tell them that this is
not matrimonial bureau, but one OF
engraving and printing"
At this point one of the younger
guides burst into the guides ONCE,
having just finished directing a party
through the building. and added her
contribution. While the questions that
had been put to her were exasperatinE-
ly ridiculous. her sense of humor came
to her rescue and made her laugh
heartily as she recalled them. banlsn :
ing the momentary annoyance she had
suffered when they were put to her.
Some of them follow:
How many nationalities of notes do
you print here?"
Are all dimensions Of notes printed p
why do those men and women wear
green shades?
what is that lady doing?"
DO the, men ever get the ink on
where do they percolate Cperforate)
the stamps"
where do they put the qualifications
(perfora tions) in the stamps?
How much are these men PAID?
Where is all this money sent?'
Another guide entered the room.
Struggling her shoulders in a tired
fashion Overhearing her companion,
she exclaimed:
INV dear, those sound like queries
from a learned college professor COM
pared with those I have been obliged
to listen to all morning. My charges
curiosity was not confined to the actual
operations in the bureau Even the poor
elevator came in for its share. A youth
lust asked me, ten minutes ago, as he
glanced open-mouthed at the hydraulic
elevator, whether the shaft stood still
or not when the elevator was in motion.
Can you beat it?
THE women in my party put the I'm
ishing touches to my frazzled nerves.
They halted in the room where the
sealing wax Is put on wrappers. raised
their noses in the air, and shifted dis
painfully.
my girl, what is that nasty odor
which permeates the placer asked one
middle-aged woman. who brought her
lorgnette into action in order to locate
the smell.
;, "wax,' informed her.
WAR she exclaimed Couldn't
, something else be used which would
/ prove less offensive to the nostrils?'
THAT almost proved the last straw.
"One girl asked me to show her the
! department where the money used in
her part of the country was made. She
: was astonished to learn that the money
circulated in her city was exactly like