Evening star., 1924-07-30
THIS AND THAT
BY Gle. TRACEWELL.

aoteI ana SIOro QOOrTnen present
some Of the bravest, most gorgeous
sights in Washington.
Who would hang around to see a
President or a Secretary of State, when
he may vision great figure in gold
decorated Uniform that would make a
story-book South American general
green with envy?
| Doormen are as colorful and huge as
Gamma lilies, as dignified as major domos
are supposed to be. as necessary as the
sidewalk upon which they stand.
At a big downtown hotel may be seen.
| any day, perhaps the greatest of all
local doormen. He is a sight, for the
gods
Tall and statuesaue of figure. broad
shouldered, an adequate man from every
| standpoint, he presides at the. entrance
of the hotel, with an eye--nay, two of
them-ever open for the eternal pro-
prieties.
] Dignity is perhaps the outstanding
characteristic Of a good doorrnan. This
he secures by being at least 6 feet
tall, land being the possessor of a grave
countenance, the work of nature and
personal cultivation.
| Years before, ere yet the child knew
what was to be his destiny in life the
anxious mother of the future doorrnan
must have taken him on her knee and
spoke in this wise:
| Johnny, I have been so anxious for
| you. l want you to cut a figure in life,
| to be something in the public eye, to do
| more than just earn an honest living. l
| want people to turn and look at you
as they go by. l have thought of you
i dar hyrf hat IaDf--
| color. AS bishop you might be
| spiritual, but would you attract atten-
ton? Ah, that is entirely another
| thing.
You might become a cabinet mem
ber, but then you would only have a
+! brief period in the limeight while the
| Senate was investigating you AS d
member Of Congress you might shine.
out as lame duck you would make d
sorry figure.
Therefore, it seems to me, every
| thing boils down to one job, position
requiring much the same characteristics
as those of good general, at least in
| outward appearance, anyway. Johnny,
1 think you had better become door
man"
~Oh, mother, mother, that is just what
I want to be!'' undoubtedly shouted the
child, thrilled at the prospect of getting
d
diplomat, yet be able to remain in
| Washington.
Today he stands. in resplendent attire,
a credit to himself and to his mother.
| dignifed, worthy, fit for the work he
has to do. A modern hotel is something
more than a glorified inn. 1t is city in
itself. The American public has shown
itself willing, when away from home. to
pay fancy prices for lodgings. A man
| would think twice before he would agree
| to give his wife $40 a day to run his
| home, yet he will pay that price at d
| hotel and be proud of it.
The gorgeous doorman stands at the
entrance of a hotel. the first thing the
| visitor sees after the building itself. 1t
| behooveS the hotel management, this
| being true to let the doorman cut a
figure in the world. So he does.
The doorman cuts it His uniform is
| trimmed with plenty of gold braid.
There he stands, a picturesque. bold
| figure. one to greet the visitor with
| plenty of ceremony.
| organization of hotel men, do not have
| a section devoted to the interest of their
| doormen, they are missing a bet, that's
all. The doerman is the real greeter.
X X X
| Store doormen, as observed in Wash
ington's business section, are not quite
SO large, nor so dignified, as those at
hotels, but still are plenty big enough,
| with dignity to spare.
No matter how hot or cold the day, in
Summer or Winter, the doorman gravely
opens your automobile door and bows
you to the store entrance. When you
come back he is there waiting for YOU
| N his ad r,,n xxbjc
few and far between, the doorrnan con-
tents himself with passing the time of
| day with a passing acquaintance. or
rnaJestically surveying the passing
throngs, in naughty manner.
| y * X
Let no doorrnan, or relative Of such,
get the idea that these remarks are
made in jest
In the colorful pageant of Washington
streets the doorman has his place. He
fills it well.
One of the finest things to be said of
life is that every one seems to have his
place. In his own estimation he may
be round peg in a square hole, but to
others he appears all right
So government officials, diplomats
clerks, bank runners bootblacks, doc
1uSs CIlduleufS, lelleTS, street car
motor1nen and conductors, doormen, all
have their proper places in the life of
the city.
In the operation of a street railway,
for instance, the swarthy man in over
alls, with, a bucket of grease in one
hand and a stick in the other, plays his
part every day. The rider owes more to
his ministrations, in some ways, than
he does to the president of the COM
pany.
Observed from the vantage point of a
corner, Washington street seems like
| a we'll managed scene on stage, where
all the characters know their entrances
and their exits. If any fail to appear
he knows it not. nor cares, for there is
enough in the drama to keep him in
terested.
To some it may appear commonplace
enough, yet it is of this stuff that
tragedy and comedy are woven Snort
ing fire apparatus suddenly may change
the entire action, replacing everyday
normality with a few thrills not on the
program.
An accident-pathos is introduced.
Something comical. and laughter re-
sounds. The everyday aspect of the
street is the scene for all this. Upon it
there are many persons Among these
persons not the least interesting are the
door1nen.