Evening star., 1923-07-26

people from all the states OF the
Union-the reporter continued on his
way alone.
Captain, can I get a guide?" he
asked the guard on the west door.
Right up the steps," replied the
watchman. who draws. by the way.
an annual salary of $3.50 a year, as
all the watchmen and guards do.
Does it cost anything?" asked the
newspaper man.
Twenty-Five cents sourly re-
sponded the watchman. There was
hostility in his tone, but it was not
until later that the meaning of it
was clear.
twenty men. women and children. un-
der the wing of man wearing a
cap upon which was the word
guide" The reporter stepped for
ward, but as he did so a man in
a gray cap. wearing a guide" badge,
came briskly forward.
Would you like to join the party?"
he inquired, carefully stepping be-
tween the party and the victim.
Does 1t cost anything?" innocently
asked the Investigator.
only % cents" smiled the guide
come on" man.
When a shiny quarter of the realm
nestled in the palm of the guide the
newcomer was allowed to join the
party--and not before. Two guides
bore the legend Chief" on his cap.
vigilantly watched for new guests"
Lnte-Comers Fork Over.
While the guide wearing the cap.
who was at the head Of this particu-
lar roundup of visitors, explained
the pictures by Trumbull, six others
were added to the gathering. Each
one of the six forked over 25 cents.
The guide said that the tour took
about 40 minutes. He led the way
out of the rotunda. along a hall. told
fuently the history of grandfather 8
clock, which was 120 years old, he
said. and led the way to the door
of the chamber in which meets the
Supreme Court of the United States.
There was a great execution in
there" he said, waiting for the look
upon the twenty six faces looking in
his direction. Twenty-six degrees of
mystitication duly appeared.
They executed old John Barley
corn in there" explained the guide
with chuckle. Twenty-six chuckles
followed
The kings English" was being
executed, too, although the guide was
unaware of it.
Il advise. you people to see the
stood in front Of the statue Of John
Hancock. "The lights brings out the
colors, and 1t is the most beautiful
building on the inside there are in
the world" Truly, the Liberry of
ing on the inside there are in the
, world"
Real Fund Of Facts.
His cap steadfastly jammed down
upon his brow, the guide, who exuded
facts like Great Falls does water. led
! his party to the Presidents room
| that bright little chamber, with its
| $4,000 gold-plated chandelier-so
the guide said-and the paintings OF
Presidents.
| The guide did take off his hat when
! he entered the Presidents room. He
| explained how the chief executive
/ entered the room the last thing when
! he gave up his great office. He called
the attention of the sightseers to the
! painting Of religion, in the ceiling
| and asked them to walk around sc
that they might have the "ali-seeing
| eye" Of religion upon them. The eyes
| of the figure are so painted that they
seem to follow the eyes of the spec
| tator.
Al this point an old man and two
| boys Joined the party. evidently with
| out having paid 10 cents, but the guide
| did not notice them. The reporter
| feeling that he had got his quarters
worth, left the party at this point
| and made a hasty retreat to the
| rotunda.
There he found another party OF
thirty persons about to start on q
tour. Thinking that he still had halt
an hour of guide service coming to
him. the newspaper man stepped UP
Have you paid?" asked kindly
| voice at his elbow.
1t was the chief"
"Oh, yes" with a smile. II paid
| awhile ago, but left that party down
"why didn't you stay with your
! guide?" asked the gray-haired chief,
| in a doubtful tone. as If meditating
on the advisability of throwing the
| offender out
He was too slow for me, chief,
| grinned the reporter.
| Think System Wrong.
well, go along with this party
| then" came the reply. The new guide
spoke a better brand of English thar
! the other one, but had the same line
Z, of patter. This is not to be construed
as reflection upon the Information
handed out by the guides. 1t is al
probably true, and is interesting
| enough in itself. The trip is worth
what is charged for it. most sight
seers probably would agree. That i:
not the question. The proposition is
Isn't it all wrong that people should
! Capitol building of their nation and
| at the door, be held up" for 25 cent!
| by men who are not even on the pa!
| rolls of the government? Some Capt.
| toI officials believe II is wrong, as viii
be shown, after the inspection trip Il
over.
| Halfway down the corridor the re
| porter dropped his party again anc
! wandered back. On the way he me-
| twenty-five tourists-$6.2 25--many o.
them Boy Scouts. One of the scouts
| when questioned, said that he did no
pay anything for the trip, but 1t coult
/ not be ascertained whether one of The
men in the party had paid for tn,
boys.
Determined efforts were made in th'
| rotunda to prevent visitors from
"horning in" on the parties conducted
by guides without at the same tim'
crossing the palm of the chief" o.
| his assistant with q two-bit piece. A
matter Of fact, wary visitors figh
| shy of the parties when they see /
is pay affair, and are content Il
| wander around and see things 70
themselves.
No Undue Pressure.
As far as could be seen there wa
no undue influence brought to bea
upon sightseers to join the pay tours
II they stepped within hearing dis
tance of the guide they were ap
preached and the price stated. Mos
people are so constructed that the,
either pay or move away at once. Wis
itors, of course, are free to roam
around the building at their owi
sweet will just so they leave um