Evening star., 1924-07-07
THIS AND THAT
BY c. T.. TRACEWELL.


which. will do for observation pur-
poses il one brings to it sympathy
and a sense of humor.
Saturday is perhaps the best night
to look things over, although any
other will do. But there is some
thing about a Saturday night the
world over that is different.
From the days when it was bath
night there has been little change
1t is still Saturday night, in Wash
ington almost the same as it is in
the smallest village of the land.
There is a spirit in the air, subtle
something that makes Saturday nlgh'
unlike Monday night. Perhaps IL Il
due to the fact that Saturday Is
pay day" with many. Maybe 1T Is
because the next day is Sunday
Anyway, it is the best evening 1or
our observations. Here are some oi
the things l saw on such a nlsht:
/ saw three little negro children
each holding bit OF paper shaped
like a mask, each paper adorned oy
large round circles of coiored isin-
glass. They were looking at the
| world through green, red, yellow.
saw two girls, perhaps twelve OF
thirteen years old, walking by
carrying colored canes. one stick
was enameled bright green, the
other was red. The canes mace the
girls strut.
ing along in his automobile, one OF
| the brand that is popularity reported
to cost as much as good house still
ca be purchased for-Sl5,o0e. AL
though he was seated, he sat swas
geringly, l swear.
1 saw young girl. perhaps sixteen
years old, maybe eighteen, prance by
in new shoes, at which she looked
lovingly at every third step.
proud as proud could be over the
latest acquisition. One had some
thing given away with loaf OF
bread and another a thing that cost
thousands, but each inspired the same
feeling.
! AS Alexander Pope put it:
Behold the child. by natures kindly Law.
Pleased with . rattle. tickled with
Some iiTelier pl.y,hins gives his youth
little louder. but as empty quite;
scarfs. sarters. gold, snuse his riPer
And beads and prayer books are the toys
Pleased with this bauble still. that
Till tired he sleeps. and Hfe's poor play
| is DER,
1t was one of the corners. too few
in number. on which there is a pub
lie drinking fountain, that the little
|
acted for my pleased benefit.
In viewing these spectacles. in get
ting the most out OF ones street cor
ner, If you please. it is necessary 10
look at the world as if 1t were a
show for which you had paid ad-
mi ssion.
In fact, life is just that. We have
all paid a big price to get in and will
pay a larger one before we pass
hooves US to get our moneys worth
| To see ones corner, any corner
through golden spectacles, such a:
the little colored child had, ii is no
necessary to look at it through tht
! eager eyes of youth, such as glowec
| from behind the colored isinglass.
Amy one who half tries can see q
| street corner, any time, as if he were
| looking at it for the first time. Nc
| matter how many times he may have
| makes it new again.
! Against the fountain lounges an old
man. Gray and thin, in an old suit
| with trousers baggy at the knees.
| gray mustache droops in a tanned
| face. He has stood there many {
time. waiting for car, but you never
| noticed him before.
| Tonight il is different You see
not just somebody in your way a:
you make for the car. but a worker
| m VI q TO
family, the same as you are going t,
yours.
Even the bulky Aframerican VIII.
slams your hat askew with a srea
burlap bag earelessly slung over hi
shoulder becomes fellow human
being, as seen through your masi
glasses of sympathy.
Stand with me on the street corner
and watch the pageant of life go by
Such color, such movement, sucl
unbelievable tragedy and Stiffness a
parade themselves there, each oh
1ectified to the seeing spectator
Changing street cars, whirling au
tomobiles. old ladies painting along
young ladies prancing by, small boy!
pushing and showing. a woman wheel
ing baby carriage, a delivery bo,
on a bicycle. a stray dog sneakins
along the gutter, seemingly realizing
| that it has no tag around its neck
and therefore has violated the law.
of its god, man; the traffic cop il
hrs natty white gloves and cap, tht
delicatessen proprietor, standing in the
doorway, looking out. hoping for NOR,
trade; the dirty-looking cat, amblins
along the sidewalk, close to III,
stores, keeping a sharp lookout 70
dogs,
What Main street in what town cal
| show any more varied array thar
that. witnessed on street corner il
the National Capital one Saturda.
evening.
Viewing the street through ou
golden glass, it is easy to be charita
BILE. Perhaps Pope put the case a bi
too strongly. One should be cas-,
with Pope, however. He was i'll hi
entire life. He never had the blesse,
health of even a little picEaninn,
strolling by with a colored toy.
| That was why he spoke of praye
poor play"
We of another age and lano
blessed with more health and les
genius. can see value in prayer book
and life, while appreciating the poin
| of view of the poet and enjoying hi
| pleasant sarcasm.
So we will be pleased still with ou
latest bauble-a street corner on
Saturday night.
RocoOu;tion of Russia