Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1917-02-11
AROUND THE CITY.

She was a little old lady. whose face
and manner was of the meekness ac-
credited to Moses.
And she had just passed through a
door which another woman had opened
for her-lower entrance, Library OF
Congress-when the uniformed official
inside touched his cap, and. with a
smi1ingly deferential Pardon me-" took
possession of the roll of paper which
the old lady held in tho hand which
didn't grip her cane. After a salts
flying glimpse the officer returned the
paper with another deferential smile.
The old lady walked on with her
meekness intact until the marble wall
Of the steps hid her from view. Then
she whispered to the other woman. who
was going the same way:
why did that young man do that
What possible interest could he have in
N.Y.
The other woman explained.
You don't tell me! Why. tho very
idea! To think Of his suspecting me OF
carrying a bomb! Why. my dear, I've
never had such q thrill in my life! It
is really very exciting-feel my heart.
lac younger WoIL<lii ldAu a. AA&sAAN oAA
the old lady's palpitating velvet.
Racing, isn't It? And I'm sure I
must have a color by the way my
blood is tingling all over-as 1t used to.
So absured. to suspect me. my dear.
when 1 assure you, even deplore the
necessity Of having to kill the poor
flies. Such a nice young man, too
did it so delicately-quite the cavalier.
But you may have noticed that / was
not timid at all. 1 just stood there
as a lady should To think that any
one could accuse me Of wanting to
destroy this beautiful place! Why,
my dear, just to show how ridiculous
1t is to suspect me, even In thought, 1
feel SO grieved for the helpless animals
butohered for our food that I haven't
tasted meat for years, except bit OF
chicken now and then. 1 am good
woman. my dear. I assure YOU"
There was no doubt Of it But 1t was
digiously proud Of being suspected as a
bad one.
A policeman had q splinter in his
finger, and an everyday citizen was
trying to pick it out An ordinary being
may stand on q street corner and have
splinters pried out without attracting
n commotion, but with policeman II
is different.
A batch Of rag-tag youngsters who
upon to divert themselves at the ex.
pense Of the helpless law. The dirtiest
boy, with rundown heels and not even
rag of necktie, began the game
by screeching out with fine theatrical
ability:
police! Po-leece! Somebody's swiped
me goldwatch' n chain-Poleece! Say
fellers. let's play thief. I'm runnin
Off with the goods. see, an you takes
after me hot'n'heavy. yellin' out STOP
A. ~ xh~$ RYty q
start.
The small rascal got his start, all
right, but no yells followed his flying
The reason was very simple-the
splinter was out of tho policeman
finger.
A florists van stood at a curb. its open
door showing an interior as green as a
Jungle. with fern sprays and palm.
colored boy holding pot Of pink azalias:
He was g. bright-eyed, brown skinned
youngster, and among the passersby at
tracted by the tableau he was making
with voice loud enough to be heard
across the street. The man with him
was merely listener.
Here you have the tropics without
the trouble of going to them. 1 saw
hundreds Of bits like that when was in
the Philippines" and SO on.
Naturally. the people who happened to
be around stared at the portiy gentleman.
and one man went 80 far as to say to his
in voice loud enough
to be heard across the street:
Hes never been near the Philippines;
lives next door to mo in Anacostia."
The critic was only chatting. Of course,
for his home is out Chevy Chase way.
on a portly gentleman for airing his
trAvAlS at the top OF his lungs.
She was a piush-coated woman with
gilt grapes on her hat And she stood
before a shop window to view a wax lady
Also she held q plated leather leash with
q dog at the end. The woman was Study
ing tho styles and the dog was sort Of
dozing-until a snappy little terrier
The small thing wore his tag. but he
danced on his slim legs with the light
ness Of free air And you could tell that
he was Laughing by the wet sparkies IN
Also you could tell, the same way. that
he was talking.
Say. bull. shake your old girl and lets
have q run."
The bull tugged at his leash and lifted
yearning eyes to the plush coat and gilt
grapes. But he knew, all the same. that
his old girl wasn't to be shaken. She was
too busy with tho befrizzled wax lady on
live thing at her feet. Some women are
that way-and men.
The bull sighed, and the terrier. waltz
ing around a few twirls to show how free
and happy a dog can be when he isn't
tied to the end of a string. scampered off
in search of better fun.
And, doubtless. some naturalist is busy
somewhere this minute writing something
to prove that animals lack intelligence.
Lady, has you got the timer"
The wmoan who asked belonged to
the type now go rare as to be little
more than a memory of the old south.
Her face was the brown of a well cured
tobacco leaf and. from bundled-up nu-
bia to good. honest leather shoes, she
was as clean as a country breeze.
The other woman looked at her watch
and said 1t was seven minutes to 6.
"Gittin' monty late for that funl. I
ben waitin' here de longes' kinder
time. an the cawpse amt come out
Wit"
The watch-woman looked up the
street bit and saw about a dozen cars
parked In front of Senator Blanks
door. Then she explained that Mrs.
Blank must be giving tea.
And the surprise-and disappoint-
ment-in the old souls face was worth
going the traditional mile to see
If one be fond of walking.
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