Evening star., 1923-09-13
WASHINGTON SKETCHES
Our Anarchists.

Anarchists and destructionists-
we have them by the thousands. AL
low at least one to every ten in
habitants, or. say one to twenty, and
there are at least 10000 of them
within our gates.
True, this is not distinctive of
Washington. Other cities have them.
But they are an integral, interesting,
important part of the city's popula-
tion and decidedly an element to be
reckoned with in the structure of the
municipality.
The writer is extremely we'll ae-
iquainted with one especially dam
gerous destructionist. He knows
scores, of others and feels qualified
to pick them to pieces gently.
Absolute disrespect and positive
contempt for authority is the out
standing characteristic of this class
of residents. They jeer at their su-
periors in authority, laugh at dis
disloyal. Trying to break up things
is their aim in life, apparently, and
transmitting order into chaos their
most desired goal.
And yet we love them.
We pamper them and amuse them,
coax and threaten them, and always
love them dearly.
This particular rebel that the
writer knows best seems to be try
ing to asphyXiate has family most
of the time. He has penchant for
turning on the third gas Jet of the
stove when nobody is, looking. He
is continually attempting to break
plates and pull tablecloths from the
table, in an earnest endeavor to give
some reliable chinaware. firm some
T-la t,s,k
surveillance he worms his way into
the record cabinet of the phonograph
and attempts to wreak all the VEN
geance that his fourteen months of
age have stored up on the defense
less disks. Then there's one of those
piano lamps that stand in the center
OF the floor like fiamingo with
naming body and one leg supporting
all the weight, which this anarchist
who whole -heartedly believes in
the disruption of all things-loves
to pull to the floor. He is typical of
his class. Let the foregoing go to
the support of the statement that
his class loves to bring order into
chaos.
AS for disloyalty: Is it loyal to
rorsake those that feed You for the
arms of neighbors who let you toot
their automobile horns to the dis
gust of all other neighborS? Thxt's
he. Allowed that this might not
be typical of his class, yet other
anarchists have other ways of show
ing disloyalty for those who care
for them.
Regarding jeering at authority of
superiors: What is 1t but jeer when
the destructionist sticks out his
tongue while running away from one
who is trying to put him to bed?
And what is it but laughing fig
uratively at discipline when he con-
tinually eats raw potatoes in smiling
contempt for explicit and clear orders
to the contrary?
Yes, it's true. The anarchists and
destructionists are always with US
But what would we do without them?
4sn 1t one of the greatest pleasures
of the present for some of us to walk
home to smiling face drawing out
''dad-d-die" in silver-liquid tones or
momm- ma" in dulcet notes? And
isn't the same thing one of the most
cherished memories of the past for
others?
Let 'em stay with US. THEY'LL get
over the destructionist craze one of
these days and become the construc-
tionists of the days to come. They're
one of the greatest pleasures on
earth, but the law of compensation
works out i'll this case by making
them one of the most batting proh,
lens which poor humans have TO face
SO more power to them. For every
ounce of worry they bring an ounca
OF Joy-and happiness is cheap at
twice the price.