Evening star., 1920-02-29
HEARD AND SEEN

dEAkU AMI OEEN
One resident Of this city 10 treasur-
ing bit Of pencil. It Is about two
inches long. a real Stub" one most
people would think only At for the
waste basket. But It is q pencil with
= history.
Tho owner Of the pencil was at the
dinner Of the Alumni Association of
the George Washington University
last week. At that dinner Senior vi
cente Blasco Ibanez was a guest Of
honor. Tho famous Spanish novelist
had that afternoon received from the
university the degree Of doctor Of
letters
Senor Ibanez spoke in Spanish
After he had concluded the banquet
settled down to its wonted course. the
other speakers taking their turns, ac-
quitting themselves nobly.
During this time a young man
seated in a chair behind the afore-
mentioned owner Of the short pencil
had been making numerous requests
for a fountain pen. The man with
the pencil finally drew forth his stub
Of a pencil and proffered it to the
other.
With a hasty word Of thanks the
youth grabbed the pencil and made
off around the tables with it. Fol-
10x he
Gil. the owner watched it progress
with rapid strides to the honor guest
table, approach Senor Ibanez, and
then be received into his hand
The novelist bent his head over a
book which had been presented by
the eager young man along with the
pencil. Pretty soon the young man,
the pencil and the book ali came back
around the tables together.
We'll. did you get it?" asked the
owner of the pencil.
Yes" triumphantly breathed the
autograph hunter, as he handed back
the pencil. He held up the book. a
the famous Spanish author.
There. on the title page. was writ.
ten the name Of the author in a bold
hand. and very black, since the little
pencil had a very heavy lead in it.
The young man went away elated
with his autograph prize, but the
man with the stubby pencil thinks
that he really has the best souvenir,
A child's prayer has long been
celebrated in song and story. Prayers
from the youthful lips of faith have
ever appealed to mankind. There are
few SO hardened as not to be moved
by such prayers. or remember with
awe their own lisping of '.Now I lay
me down to Sleep"
Children also, in their innocence,
sometimes say prayers which are not
without their humorous side, and
these, too, have been handed down to
posterity. In this latter class belongs
the following true account of the
prayer of a little girl who lives just
on the other side Of the District line
in Maryland.
Little Lois was completing her
evening prayer at her mothers knee.
Amen" finished Lois. and then,
Mamma; has the Lord got bald
head like daddie?'
Almost every institution or bust.
ness firm can give its example Of two
workers who look so much alike that
outsiders get the two mixed up and
are constantly calling one gentleman
by the others name.
The joint congressional commission
on reclassification of salaries in the
District, which next month will bring
its work for the 100000 government
workers here to close. so far as 1t is
concerned. has its case of like appear
ing workers.
These two are none less than c. W.
Hamlin. reclaSsification commissioner
and John S. Beach, president Of Fed
eral Employees Union. No. 2. Commits
sioner Hamlin Is known as one of the
most devoted of the commissioners,
being usually the first man ON the
job each day at the commission.
Mr.. Beach was early detailed to the
from his position in the
government service to assist the COM
mission, and has rendered valuable
aid to it.
1t develops that outsiders are con-
Visitors frequently say, why, how
dee-do. Mr.. Hamlin." to Mr.. Beach. and
Good morning. Mr.. Beach," to Mr..
1H0 Two linen 90 look great deal
alike, having smooth faces with q
great deal Of color in them, and both,
as Mr.. Beach says, wearing their
hair the same way; this being Mr..
Beach's way Of putting the fact tn
both haven't as much hair on the tops
OF their heads as on the sides.
Although fhe sroundhoss at the
Zoo" did their best to keep the spring
days away from that fine park and
playground for the people. time will
bring spring within q few months
now, at the worst. Time has q way
Of making things move.
Although crowds at the National
Park have fallen OF ma
terially during these cold winter Sum
days. nevertheless many visit the park
every Sunday. Much attention is given
the animals kept indoors, naturally.
Thus the mother hippopotamus has
her admirers. Recently two small |
boys, that good sort that shy rocks |
at cats and spafrows, were standing
in front Of the hippopotamus cage,
watching Mrs. Hippo eat hay.
Look at 'er open 'er mouth" said
one boy, lost in admiration.
mouth nothin'!" exclaimed the
other. s"That amt 'er mouth|it's 'er
whole head she's openin'!''
CHARLES e. TRACEWELL.