Evening star., 1925-01-20
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

occurred. The truck. with better
fortune than its driver deserved,
slid by just by a hairs breadth, as the
street car came to a jerked halt
Passengers. thrown violently for
ward, righted themselves, then look
ed around to see what was the mat
ter.
All this time the small boy had
stood his ground. Now he looked up
| at the motorman.
Gee" was all he said.
| X X X
do you still remember the heroes
| of your childhood days? Those men
whose physical feats were the admi-
ration of all small boys?
IN this matter of youthful hero wor-
snip nature runs true to form. In
the childhood of the race, and in the
beginning of the individual, deeds OF
| Drawn are most admired
Ihis was necessary, when mankind
was pup, and has its uses in the life
of every incipient man. Mind over
| matter" ah, yes, but 1 am not sure
that the physical does not have US in
thrall all life through, despite our
best efforts to the contrary.
Small boys are not bothered with
any philosophical implications They
| devoutedly worship certain brands OF
work, and the workers thereof, from
the days they first play with tin SOL
diers and toy fire engines and little
express wagons.
There is many a staid business man
today who first went on record, many
years ago, as desiring to be a mo-
torman when he grew up" He
laughs at the childhood recollection
but he was serious then.
To his eyes, then, as to the eyes of
children today, the life of the street
car operative seemed an eminently
worthy one, as, indeed, it is. What
more interesting and thrilling job
than to ride up and down the streets,
| changing your bell and making every
body get out of your way!
There was just one other occupation
that We'd with 1t, and that was the
work of the fremen. the brave fire.
fighters of the D. c. F. D. Those were
the days OF the mad, galloping horses,
plunging three abreast down the
street, while the changing bell sent
shivers of JOY down the spine of every
small boy IN town.
Some OF the fascination OF being a
fireman" went out with the disap-
pearance of the brave, beautiful
horses before the unmerciful onrush
stayed for sentiment. The automo-
bile engine and truck can get TO a fire
quicker, and there is plenty of thrill
left.
Yes, plenty of it. Ask any boy.
x
Other heroes Of childhood days are
soldiers, Buffalo Bill, Indian fighters
of all kinds, cowboys, drivers of eX-
press wagons and blacksmiths.
Few boys wanted to be policemen
Perhaps the penchant of the average
youth to run from the cops accounts
for this lack of desire to put on the
shoes of an. officer of the law. 1t is
more fun being pursued than pursuer.
Every normal boy has a period
when he wants to be d soldier,
modern Buffalo Bill, or some sort of
slayer OF Injuns.
Bang! You're deadr' Billie shouts
on my street, just the same as l used
to do in another part of town. Billie
can journey over there, if he wants
to, but l cannot go back there again.
II / sought that forest where Indians
lurked, 1 would fnd-an apartment
house!
Every boy has turn at the lariat
when he takes to lassoing bedposts
and boys, and sometimes an un-
suspecting elder. AS for wanting to
be blacksmiths, perhaps this is more
the desire of the small town lad than
of the city boy.
Personally. l always wanted to be
a farmer, and sport chin whiskers