The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-11-09

Il me SlTA
and the Habit
uABiT-A tendency or aptitude
acquired by custom or frequent
repetition.
Copyright. 1890. sv Doubleday. Page
q Co: published tv special ar
sancemcnt uuh the Wheeler Syn
dsoafe. Inc
Tho critics have assaiied every
source Of inspiration save ono.
To that opc We are driven for our
moral theme When We levied upon
tho masters OF old they sieefuily
dug up the parallels 10 our columns
when we Htroyc 20 set forth real NE
they rerroaehed ua for trying 20 imi
tate Henry George. George Washing
ton. Washington Irving and Twins
Hacheller. We wrote OF the West and
tho East. and they accused ua OF
both Jesse and Henry James. We
wrots from our hsart-and they said
something about a disorderod liver
We took takt from Matthew or
er---ycs. Deuteronomy. but the
preachers were hammerinE away ai
the Inspiration Idea before We could
set into typs So. driven 90 the
wall. We go for our subiectmatier "a
the reliable. old. moral. unaHsailabic
Vado mecum-the unabridged diction'
AIRY.
Aflss Merriam was cashier al ffip.
kleA iinkies il one Of tho hfg
downtown restaurants. II iH IN what
the PAPERS call the Financial dis
trici." Each day from 1, o'clock 10
z iIinkie's was fun Of hungry Gus.
TONERS boys. stcnogra.
piers. brokers, owners OF mining
stock. promoters. Inventors with pat
cnts pending and also people with
money.
Tho oaAhlernhip At Hinkie's was
no rinecurr. Hinkle eEKsd and
toasted and Eriedlc .oakcd and coffeci
good many customers. and he
iunched esa Eood a word n. "dlned'1
many more. II might be said that
iflnkio's breakfast crowd was a con
tinxent. but his luncheon patronage
amounted to horde
Miss Merriam sat on q stool At a
desk inrioscd on three sides by a
strong. high fencing Of woven brass
wire Thru an archod opening at
the bottom you thrust your walters
check and the money. while your
heart went plt.apat
For Miss Merriam ~as lovely and
capable. She could take a. cents on,
Of two dollar bill and rcfuse an of
fer % marriage before you could
Next - ioai your chance - please
don't shove sho could keep cool and
collected while che collected your
check. give you the correct change.
win your heart. Indicate tho tooth,
pick stand. and rate you 10 a quarter
Of cent better than nradatrect could
10 = thousand In iem time than IL
takes 10 pepper an esq with ono OF
iilnkle's casters
There Is an old and dignified al
fusion To tho fierce light that beats
upon a throne The light that beats
upon tho young lady cashisr's cage IL
also something fierce. The other fel.
low In rcnponaabl. for the alang.
Every male patron Of Hinkie'r
from the A. n. 7. boys up TO the
curhstone brokers. adored Mia. Mrr.
ram When they paid their checks
they wood her with every vile
known 10 cupids art Between the
mcshru Of tho brass railing went
smiles. wlnks. compliments. tender
vows. Invitations TO dinner. ssghs.
lanxuishlng looks and merry banter
tina, was waited poln,edly back b.
tho gifted Miss Merriam.
There ls no coiKu Of vantage more
sffcetiv. than the position % young
lady cashier. She sits there. easily
queen Of the court Of commerce: she
is duchess Of dollars and devoiru.
countess OF compliments and coin.
leading lady Of love and luncheon.
You take from her smile and a
Canadian dime. and you so your way
accomplishing. You count the CHEEKY
word or two that she tossea you ms
mlscrs count their treasures: and
you pocket tho change for five UNI
computed. Perhaps the hrnss- bound
inacccusioIlity muiupiies her charms
anyhow. she Ia shirt.walstcd
angel. immaculate. trim. manicurcd.
seductive. bright.eyed. ready. alert
Psyche. Gree and Ate IN one. sepa.
rating you from your circulating
medium after your slrIoin medium.
The young man who broke bread
Mt Hlnkic's never settled with the
cashier without an exchange OF
hadinags and open compliment.
Many Of them went 10 greater
lengths and dropped promissory
hints Of theatre tickets and choco-
iat~s- The older men spoke plainly
OF grunge blossoms. generally withcr.
Ing the tentative petals By sftor-allu.
slons 10 Harlem flats. Ono broker.
who had been squeezed by copper.
proposed 10 Mise Merriam more rcgu.
larly than he aic.
During n brisk luncheon hour Miss
Morriam's conversation. while she
took money for checks. would run
something like this:
Good morning. nr. Haskins-sir7
---its natural. thank you--don't be
quite 40 fresh Hello. Johnny
10. 15. 20---chase along now or they'll
take the letters Off your cap u
Beg pardon--count II again. please
Oh. don't mention IL Vaude-