Evening star., 1925-09-21
Among small things, the rubber


washer is the most monumental.
1t belongs to that select list of
articles for which there Is no sub.
stitute.
We may get along very we'll with
out a wooden snow shovel, so long
as we have a steel one commonly
used for coal.
We may miss our favorite maya
zine. but some other publication will
pass away the time just as well.
Lacking the gladiolus. we love the
rose. and yearning for Winter, we yet
enjoy Summer.
But when the old hose springs a
leak, there Is nothing In the whole
wide world that will take the place
Of the little rubber washer!
1t just fills the bill. II it were a
sixteenth of an inch less in diameter
our purpose. Even If 1t were that
much too large 1t would be some
what of a nuisance to whittle 1t
down.
+ We do not have to do a thing
to 1t, however. 1t, and eleven OF Its
brethren, are reposing in mighty
little stack there on the edge OF the
basement steps. and all we have to
do is take it from the top OF the
pile.
Fitted into the leaking joint, the
rubber washer begins to function at
once. 1t does not have to be wound
up, nor does it require to be coaxed,
petted or praised. 1t does its stun,
as the saying is. and 1t does 1t gladly,
freely, in the best spirit in the world.
The rubber washer never goes on
strike. or querulously questions our
right to insert 1t I'm the leaky place,
in order to hold the water to its proper
place of exit.
The rubber washer Just works
away at it's mission in the world. 1t
saws wood. as 1t were. and says moth
ing about 1t, one way or the other.
One might think that piece OF
string cleverly wound around leaky
joint in a stretch Of hose would end
the trouble, at least for the time be-
ing.
Yet any one who has had any ex.
perience in the fine art OF lawn sprin-
king will tell you otherwise. AS a
matter Of fact, 1t Is only because he
has had vast experience with string
and twine and rags and cord, etc.
that he has come to hold the rubber
washer in such esteem.
Only after we try all the substitutes
do we find that the genuine article Is
best. 1t is always so. The original
thing was the work Of much thought
and experiment, combined with loving
care.
All the imitators string along be-
cause competition compels them to-.
Their heart is not in II. Therefore
their product isn't as good as the old
original.
It is so with the rubber washer.
Certainly 1t might appear. at hrst
thought. that a piece of twine would
f1ll the bill.
Well. try it.
The hose is leaking.
The water is dripping down over
your new shoes. The whole task has
become a sad affair, one wholly lack
ing in any charm whatever. To many
persons, indeed, the job Of watering
the lawn is nothing but work at best.
Especially these folk. then, need sup
ply of rubber washers on the base
ment steps. All of US need them, for
that matter. The hose has sprung a
leak, and unless we are careful we
will be in the fix of poor Smith.
Smith really likes to water the grass.
He has a great time over 1t. 1t Is his
substitute for the ocean. Luckier
men than he, Smith says, go to the
seashore or to the lakes. or even to
the fishing hole. Smith stays at home.
Yet he does not utterly deny him
self the primeval lure Of water. He
gets 1t daily in his bath, and especially
In the evening when he waters the
lawn. fore and aft.
Smith enjoys the whole thing, from
the opening splutter of the water to