Evening star., 1924-08-17
Heard and Seen

A new way OF getting not uHuel
the collar was discovered last week
by a Washingtonian who is not given
to getting angry easily.
This particular form of rise of
temperature. indeed, had nothing
particular to do with anger, at least
not until the whole thing was over.
Then amusement conquered ire.
This chap bent his head forward,
only to feel a sudden sharp pain at
the back of his neck.
Now what is the matter with me-
was his mental question to himself.
Again he bent his neck, and again
came the sharp fash of pain.
ouch" he exclaimed
Visions of mysterious maladieS
loated before his eyes. 1t is a su-
percilious man who has not at some
time or other in his life, toyed with
the idea of having this. that or the
other dangerous disease.
1t is fortunate for US that in this,
as in most of the other affairs of life,
the old motto is true. Il am an old
man. and have had many troubles
most of which never happened"
The man with the stabbing pain at
the back of his neck bethought HIM
self to remove his collar.
When he did SO, out flew a large
bee
An acQuaintence had similar ex-
perience at the front of his neck. ex-
cept that a perfectly harmless collar
button took the role of the bee.
This was many years ago. The
gentleman involved-not quite so old
a gentleman then-was riding on one
of the Sixteenth street herdics. Who
All
up and down the wide street, horse
drawn vehicles that took you there
and brought you back.
This man was riding along, when,
happening to swallow. he felt a sud-
den curious crinkling along his Adams
apple.
He tried the experiment again and
again, each time to feel that odd
quirp in his neck. He, too. got stage
than women.
When he got home, holding his
neck perfectly rigid to avoid causing
that curious feeling. he rushed into
the house. tore of his coat; then yanked
his collar off.
Like most mysteries, it was easily
explained, with the light of day shin
ing on it. The collar button had be-
come twisted around, in some way. so
pressed against his Adams apple. 1t
had never happened before, and it
has never happened since. But it
happened then.
Those Sixteenth street herdics have
long given place to the busses, but
hundreds of persons remember be-
ing passengers in them.
Standing on the corner waiting for
the herdic was 0ne of the favorite e
outdoor sports Is or 20 years ago
among those living in a broad band
of a block to either side of Sixteenth
street
They ran from street down to
Fifteenth and H streets, ending up
over on G street some place. The her
die, for the information of this gen.
Grafton, was a sort of sawed-off street
car drawn by two horses. The driv-
ers reminded one of men out of Dick
ems, and surely were 1ineal descend
ants of his coachmen.
Two gray horses drew each herdic.
The floors of the vehicles were COW
cred with straw, a material that was
known to be not entirely lacking in
f1eas and other vermin. Many a
child had its legs bit up in this fash
ion.
For many months enterprising per-
sons were able to beat" the connect
ing street car line at H street by
securing transfers, which one was
able to use at any time OF day or
night.
In some bland. chiidlike manner the
herdic company trusted it's patrons.
and gave them transfers. but did not
punch them. They could even be
used day after day. Every time one
went downtown on a herdic he asked
for transfer. and slowed 1t away in
his pockets for future use.
Thus he was supplied with a re-
turn ticket for use at any time he
chose to walk to Fifteenth and H
streets. After a while the children
got to collecting herdic transfers,
in the same manner they collect milk
bottle tops.
Finally the company got wise, and
put a man on the corner, to whom
one had to apply for transfers. Good