Evening star., 1920-07-11
HEARD AND SEEN

When it comes to fine old buildings
the pension office is in class by 1T
self.
The curved ceilings of the various
ohces situated on the different floors
around the rim" of the pension Office
building form one Of the most curious
features to be found in any of the
office structures of the government in
the District.
These curved ceilings are RESPONSE
BILE for many queer acoustic qualities
that mystify strangers. and sometimes
cause no little perturbation to work
ers themselves.
On account of those ceilings it is
perfectly possible for a band to be
playing down in the great court of the
building, while officials. seated at
desks in some of the offices which
to hear a single musical sound,
At the same time, and while the
band is still playing, it is possible
that the official aforementioned may
have waited to his ears a converse
tion taking place in another office
hundreds OF yards away on the other
side of the court.
Sometimes one standing in the cen
ter of a room, beneath one of those
curved ceilings, is unable.to make-a a
person at a desk near the windows
hear him, while tho one at the desk is
from an office 100 yards down the cor
ridor. y
1t is said that the Army engineer
who built the pension bureau build
ing knew what he was doing when he
constructed those ceilings, which
were his pets. ! am told that an Off
cial went to the engineer and told
of the strange acoustic properties of
the Offices This, of course, was years
ago.
II know it," quietly replied the en-
gineer, with a smile.
But he never left any formula by
means of which any one could scien-
tifically listen in," so that today the
only good those queer ceilings do is
to mystify and amuse.
kk - e.
"Give me a baby rattle" said the
tall, dignified man. as he stood at the
counter.
I'VE have several kinds" replied the
girl, with a smile of rare understand
ing, as she placed several rattles be-
fore him.
Il guess this one will do" answer
ed the customer, indicating q choice
rattle, well worthy of the small hands
soon to hold it.
Thus was ended another great ad-
venture, comparable only to the pur-
chase of that first pound of butter as
householder in your own right.
Business men grow garruIous, fair
ladies become very business-like e.
when it comes to asking questions
over the telephone regarding the
progress of national conventions.
At least that was the case during
the days of the recent much balloted
democratic convention, when thou
sands of persons called up The Star
to find out ''how the convention was
going"
Strange to say, the woman callers
had the men beat a mile" when II
came to asking a question concisely
and then bringing the whole matter
to a conclusion. Nineteen calls in rapid
succession gave the following results:
Four women called, two used pencils
to take down the results of the bal
lots. said thank you," and hung up.
Fifteen men called. None used
pencil, and practically every one had
to ask for a repetition of the ballot
after 1t had been given them once.
Practically every one OF the man
callers recorded desired to enter into
a conversation with the very busy
informant at the other end OF the
wire.
"How does it look to your" inquired
one man. after the result or the bal
lot was given him. That's very sur
prising," said another. SO Cox is
ahead! Well. we'll, well"
CHARLES il. TRACEWELL.