Evening star., 1921-08-21
Heard and Seen

A rather curious thing happened
last week when the workmen were
adjusting over the center arch at the
entrance of the Post ONCE Depart
ment building the large letters SPELL
ing out the name of the establishment.
The word department" went into
place first, "Post ONCE" being put up
in more or less reverse order. so that
toward afternoon the sign ran:
Tee DEPARTMENT"
The first part of Post Once" name
ly Post OF" remained to be put in
place, when some hitch occurred in
the work, and the legend stood in its
incomplete state for several hours.
About this time a couple of sight
seers happened along Pennsylvania
avenue. The man evidently was at
tempting to impress his woman COM
panfon with the greatness of Wash
ington. for when he happened to see
the sign his arm went up like a flash.
"See there"s he exclaimed, in tones
of triumph. There's the Ice Depart
ment.".
While City Postmaster Chance was
out on his farm in the middle west
small post Offices in the vicinity.
Being from the National Capital,
his visits took on something of the
official greatness which clothes any
body from Washington. at least in
the eyes of the folks back home"
all one has to do is say they are from
Washington to Immediately take on
added Importance. So Postmaster
Chance found his visits much appre-
ciated.
One morning early he stepped I'D
to small post Office in a small viii
lage. 1t was early yet and the office
was not officially opened All he
could see was a middle-aged woman
sweeping out the Office.
rs the postmaster here?" asked
Mr.. Chance.
The woman stopped her sweeping
and looked at him in a rather em-
Il am the postmistress," she finally
replied.
The story about Postmaster Chance
and the postmistress who had to
sweep out her own post Office recalls
another about two women who went
house hunting last week.
The house was out in the suburbs,
one OF the prettiest places around
washington, where the trees are
green and the skies blue and other
manifestations of nature run true to
form.
Inspecting newly built homes is
always a pleasure. il only to be able
to detect the obvious faults which
the designers seem invariably to
make.
This house." proudly announces
the agent was designed by a COM
mittee of women"
Il thought So" replies the investi-
gator. The person who put the
mirror over in the dark evidently
never shaves."
This particular afternoon the two
the little house. While they were
discussing its merits a mild looking
gentleman appeared on the porch.
Are you the agent?" asked one
woman.
The mild looking man looked even
NO. madam" he replied. as if en-
barrassed. Il am only the owner"
Blessed with many beautiful parks
and squares. the people Of Washing
ton make all too little use of them
This is the judgment of a dis
tinguished man who is well ac-
quainted with most Of the larger
cities Of the country.
Nowhere according to this man.
is there city with such fine parks
so admirably placed for the use of
all the people. He did not speak of
Rock Creek and Potomac parks. but
Of the squares, circles and numerous
smaller bits of green sprinkled
throughout the city.
And he was right. CHANGING to
walk through judiciary Square, I
remembered what this man had told
me, and I looked around at the semi
deserted condition of the benches.
A pleasant breeze was blowing, the
sun was shining warmly. while clouds
sailed along. The red pile of the
pension Office building contrasted
warmly with the chaste whiteness of
the city hall. With the blue of the
sky, they furnished. without stretch
Of the imagination, the colors of Old
Glory.
Fat pigeons. tame squirrels, Eng
lish sparrows, busted themselves in
the grass. From afar came the
chime of some bells, ringing out the
morning hour. 1t was happy.
pleasant scene, but very few were
there to enjoy 1t, and, too, few ever
come. We ought to use our parks
CHARLES E. TRAcEwELLA