Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-05-06

A long time ago pdoy was ~ "
| camp.
The other night a woman was selling
papers on the Avenue. Trade was prisk
and she darted through the crowds as
boyishly alert as any other newsy on
the street. Between sales she enter
tanned herself with patriotic outoursts
and kiddishly youthful laughter. And
always she waved a flag.
man with a whimsical friendliness
of voice bought a paper. and at sight
of him the oldish face Frightened with
smile that belongs to childhood
Hello. little sister; how do you find
yourself tonight"
Fine, Old Glory's going to war
again, Here you are-thats a nice
man-told me to keep the change. Hi.
Won. boy; let my flag alone, That all
the respect you got for the nag my
father fought for? oh, The Star
Spangled Banner Paper? Here
you are -
and back again.
The boys still tease you, see. But
it is only their fun. little sister"
They want my flag, but they won't
I hug it in my arms 1t is going to be
buried with me. Hi. there. mister don't
buy from that boy: you belong to me"
Hold on a minute, comrade. Why
don't you put on your coat this chilly
night? Aren't you cold?
No. I'm warm. The flag warns me.
I'm the child of the regiment l was
born in the army and l ought to have
a big silk flag and a home down at
Seven Pines that my father left us.
But it's gone. and they put my sister
over yonder-and she's no more of
crank that am. Here you are: Say.
Mr. Man. why don't you pin flag on
your coat? Pa-per-
And when she had streaked off second
man spoke to the little woman's friend:
I'm a stranger here. and I've been
watching that little body for a couple OF
evenings Is it quite safe for her to run
the streets like this
"Why not? She can earn her living
and she loves her freedom like a bird
loves the sky. She is well looked after.
and even the newsboys who tease her
would fight for her rights any day"
..Funny over the flag. isn't she?"
II reckon you might look at it that way,
but let me tell you, friend. there's no Old
soldier living. including myself. who re-
woman you see caperinG around. ] be-
lieve she would die in its defense What
more could any OF US do?''
And while they sized her up. the news
woman, old enough to link the civil war
with this one and young enough to carry
a bows job with boys buoyancy. flashed
around selling papers and waving her
flag.
man was staring at picture in a
sbon window He looked like a man
who had been drinking and would
drink again the first nickel that came
his way. His clothes accented the i'm
preston.
The Saturday night crowds surged by
and the street was ablaze with lights
and. sociable with chatter. but the man
maid no attention. With his body
hunched against the store wall. and his
hands dug deep in pathetically empty
looking pockets, he had eyes only for
the picture. Other people paused long
enough to glance at the prints and mag
azines. but only the man seemed to
have ewes for the white-robed figure
lacked above a row of war scenes.
And to one passerby 1t seemed as III
the Man of Nazareth was looking with
sorrowful eyes at the man who was
down and out.
A woman who appeared to have
enough sense to come out of the rain
was leaving a bank. when another
woman happened along.
."Lo. Marian! What's the matter. hon?