Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1919-02-09
HEARD=AND SEEN.

Washingten's recent "maniae' scare
had it's good side, It's less serious side.
even as the great war. the most ter
rieie war of all history. had its good
and lighter side. While the terrible
happening evoked for the victims and
those near to them the great and
genuine sympathy of the whole city
1t served ia bring 400. 600 people just
a little bit closer Together in their
common rsprehension OF iswiessness
Even in their deep sympathy. many
saw the less serious side For in
stance. there were 100 600 households
each locking forward each night to a
visit from maniac" as though any
one man. OF a regiment, for that
matter. could have visited that many
homes in one night,
BEHIND the locked doors and care
fully closed windows, households had
great fun over the whole thing, and
bad children were threatened with
the up to- the minute "maniacn rather
than with the ancient character com
monty called upon to get bad boys
and girls.
Any unusual rafting of doors or
windows, caused by the wind. OF &C.
curing mysterieusiy, as such noises
sometimes do. would be the signal
for some member OF the family
usually male-to cry out:
There's the nnaHiae"
WhePeupan there would be mueh
meek shuddertHg on the part OF all,
Now, there Is an cid butter and egg
man who comes weekly to a certain
home, q fne fellow, with the best but
ter and eggs that are produced in one
of our tive adjacent states. There is
no use in being too specific. I don't
want to start controversies between
the cows of Maryland and Virginia.
on one hand, and the chickens of
those TIVE commemorative, on the,
ether. There are enough wranglfnes
saing on in the world now without
dragging the animals into it, Let
them be happy on the farm. and in the
jungle and the zoos.
Springing lightly back from caws
and hens to the butter and egg man.
the "maniac" and one Washington
household, let US visualize that happy
home as twilight fell that evening,
about the visits of the supposed ma
MAC.
Here comes the maniaet he called.
Mrs. John grinned bravely.
Then, all of a sudden. thunderous
knock reseunded on the kitchen door.
There's that maniaer' screamed
Mrs, John. In playful terror
I'll bat him over the head with
this milk bottle if he acts fancy"
cried Mr.. John. In loud and forceful
tones. meant to carry.
When Mrs. John opened the door,
there stood the butter. and egg man.
And IL never occurred to Mr.. and
Mrs. John why he looked SO hurt. I'M
til after he was gone away from
there.
Even il your prices are high, you
don't like to be called -maHiac."
Especially when you have been so
busy selling butter and eggs you
haven't read the paper.
SIS = :,
Appearances are Outlines deceitful;
Nor can one put one and one to-
Eether, always, and make the result
two.
a couple Of clerks In a sporting
goods store downtown thought they
had q good joke on thfs same Mrs,
but their addition was faulty
IT was two or three days after
the smaniac" appeared that Mrs. John
hiad herself down town to the: store
and asked for some exercisers. She
selected the one that seemed to strike
her fancy.
Then she asked for an ammonia
pistol, and finally went away with
her purchases. followed by the amused
smiles OF the clerks
There's. q girl who n seipg 70 be
Prepared Tor maniscssr grinaed one
But the fact was. Il. am told, that
Mrs. John was buying the exerciser
for Mr.. John. and SiS5 tszo %-.,.--.::s:-.:.-=.