The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-01-23
THE MANICURE
LADY
She Freezes Her Cheek
and Gets a Lecture
on Efficiency.
BY William F. Kirk.

If"HlS Is the nrst time froze
my cheek sine. I wa. .
chicken going to school"
said the Manicure Lady. 7 guess
this Is really one Of them old fash
Toned Winters that we used to read
about, George. I had a good no
ton not 90 come down TO business
this morning. but then again I re-
msmbered that It was the first
month Of the new year and = bad
time to start my old, IAIy habits.
SO here I am. full OF pep and FROST
bitten to q fare you wellT
Your jaw didn't froIs none, I
notice." said the Head Barber.
III you noticed more important
things. George. you wouldn't be
here in this shop now!" declared
the Manicure Lady. You would be
out along the battle front. where
heroes Is hiking up and down than
trenehes-that's where you would
bel didn't intend to start the
new year with a lot OF them sar-
castle remarks. George. but you
kind of drive me TO It. 4 girls got
q swell chance to be kind and gen
tie In this shopr'
You don't need to be kind and
gentle on my account" said the
Head Barber. IF you will only try
to be efficient. That's the latest
dope all along the line, kid-sfn-
cheney. I seen in a magazine where
all we had to do to win this war
was for every man and every
woman to do their work right up
to the handle and keep smiling. 1t
didn't say nothing whatever about
Cabling. though. which II how
things ought to be- Less talk and
more work, says L"
IT could get along grand II you
didn't talk at ALL" said the Mani
cure Lady. II hope you don't think,
George. that I talk to you because
I'm dying to talk to you. only
had a notion that maybe IL bright
sned you up q little to hear what .
refined lady had to say once In
awhile. Believe me. can keep still
IL that's the way you want things.
I won't say another word to you all
afternoon. know when my COM
pany Is welcome and when II Amt.
and IL you think talking to you 10
any grand treat for me, George
get II out OF your head"
Pm satisfied that way" said the
Head Barber. I'll take your word
for It. kid. After this you and me
will only talk when We gotta That
suits me right down TO the ground"
There couldn't be no better ar
rRnEement for me, either" said the
Manicure Lady. "6ilenos IL golden.
like 1t says in the works OF them
great authors. or. as Mister Bryan
used to say. silence is golden and
talk 10 free silver. Lots of times,
George, / have made up my mind
not to say another word to you all
day. and then I would look at you,
and you always seemed to look kind
OF lonesome and sad. and then 1
would forget all about being still
and start rattling away again But
! got my cue all right now. George,
believe me! After this you won't
hear a word out OF me when It amt
necessary. and I guess II won't be
necessary very often.
Many n time when 1 felt more
like keeping still l would say some
thing just to make your day seem
a little happier. maybe, or a little
less lonesome, though goodness
knows I ain't much Of . talker as
a rule. being more fond of thinking
than Cabling. as all my friends
know that know me at all.
Sister Mayms was saying only
the other night that I was one OF
the auietest girls she ever 5een.
which shows you that all my talk
to you has been kind of put on Just
to make you forget your troubles.
But never again. George! I don't
need to have no brick house fall on
me. I can take a hint. goodness
knows, and after this III be one
Silent Sadie around this here en-
porium. You just remember what I
told you. George. ana don't be sur
prIsed II you think I've turned into
a deaf mute"
You couldn't be no deaf mute
declared the Head Barber. IF you
couldn't talk you would explode.
90 ahead. kidl Don't let me spoil
your last days around this old
hangout guess the way II looks
now IN the barber business we
won't be here long to spiel Talk
out your string. kid. Don't let me
be no killJOy for you IN these last
days around the old homestead"