The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-08-12

lyheeicr Syndicate. lac.
gently against my waistcoat pocket.
Would you mind telling me-"
asked her. N you ever meet With
the character commonly denomina,
ed as a Man About Town during
your daily wanderingsg"
II think l know whom you mean. .
she answered with a gentle smile.
we see them IN the same places
night after night. They are the
devils body guard. and II the sol.
diers OF any army arc as faithful as
they are. their commanders arc well
served. We so among them. divert.
ing few pennies from their wicked
ness To the Lords service"
She shook the box again and l
dropped a dime into II.
In front Of glittnrrx hotel a
friend Of mine. a critic. Shs climbing
from a cab. lie seemed at leisure.
and l put my question TO hirn. He
answered me conscientiousiy. as I
was sure he would
There Is type Of Man Ahou,
s1EAa 81 Wv AOANs NV FNtAtA
The term is quite familiar TO me.
but | don't think was ever called
upon TO define the character before
II would be difficult 20 point you
out an exact specimen ! would say.
offhand. that II was n man who had
a hopeless case OF the peculiar dis
ease OF wanting TO see and know. AZ
8 o'clock each day life begins with
him. He follows rigidiy the conven.
tons OF dress and manners: but In
the business Of poking hts nose into
places where he does not belong he
could give pointers 10 a civet cat
or a jackdaw. He m the man who
has chased Bohemia about the town
from rathskeller TO roof garden and
from Hester Street 70 Harlem until
you can't find place In the city
where they don't tut their spaghetti
with a knife. Your Man Abou,
Town has done that He L. always
on the scent OF something new. He
Is curiorty. impudence and onni.
presence. Hansoms were made for
him. and gold banded cigars. and the
curse Of music at dinner. There are
not so many OF him: but his minority
report IL adopted everywhere.
I'm glad you brought up the sub.
ject: I've felt the influence OF this
nocturnal blight upon our city. but 1
never thought to analyzc II before.
can sec now that your Man Abou,
Town should have been classified
long ago. In his wake spring up
wine agents and cloak models: and
the orchestra plays Let's All Go In
to Maud's for him. by request, in.
stead OF Handel He makes his
rounds every evening. while you and
I see the elephant once a week.
When the cigar store is raided. he
winks at the officer. familiar with
his ground, and walks away i'm.
mune. while you and search among
the presidents for names. and among
the stars for addresses to give the
desk sergeant"
My friend. the critic. paused to ac'
quire breath for fresh eloquence. ]
seized my advantage.
"You have classified him" cried
with Joy. You have painted his
portrait In the gallery OF city types,
But must meet one face 10 face
must study the Man About Town
at first hand. Where shall / find
him2"
without seeming 10 hear me. the
critic went on. And his cab-drivcr
was waiting for his fare. too.
He is the subiimatcd essence OF
Buttin. the refined. intrinsic extract
Of Rubber. the concentrated. puri.
fled. irrefutable. unavoidable spirit
OF Curiosity and Inquisitiveness. A
new. sensation Is the breath OF his
nostrils: when his experience Is ex'
hausted he explores new fields with
the indefatigability Of a."
Excuse me-" interrupted, but
can you produce one OF this type?
II is a new thing 20 me. must
study IL. / win search the town over
until find one. It's habitat must
be here on Broadway"
81 am about TO dine here" said
my friend Come inside, and II
there IL n Man About Town present
I will point him out 70 you. | know
most Of the regular patrons here"
II am not dining yet" said 10
him. "You will excuse me. I am
going to find my Man About Town
this night IL ! have TO rake New
York from the Battery 10 Little Co.
ney Island
/ turned to cross TIE street. I
heard something buzz like a bee. and
then took long, pleasant ride
with Santos-Dumont.
When ! opened my eyes | remem-
bered "a smell Of gasoline, and !
said aloud: Hasn't IL passed yet?'
a hospital nurse laid a hand that
was not particularly soft upon my
brow that was not at all fcvcred. A
young doctor came along. grinned,
and handed me a morning newspa.
per. /.
Want to sec how II happcned?''
he asked cheerily. | read the article.
Its headlines began where I heard
the buzzing leave off the night be.
fore. II closed with these lines:
bellevue Hospital, where IL was
said that his injuries were not seri.
GUS. He appeared TO be a typical
Man About TowS"