Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1925-06-03
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Many curious glance was cast at
the professor as he stood on a down
town corner waiting for his bus to
come along. He was SO unconscious
or 1t all, too, his blue eyes looking
amiably out over the tops of his half.
glass spectacles.
Inc professor wore an ample black
suit, black hat bordering on the shovel
variety. stiff white shirt, with pearl
| studs, spotiess wing collar, circled
with black tie that had all the ap.
pearance of ribbon, the bow was SC
small.
Around his shoulders he wore a
oiack rubber cape of a style seldom
seen on the streets of Washington or
any other city. In his hands he held
black leather notebook. large. capa.
pie. OF the sort that allows new pages
To be put in at will.
Against tree leaned a large-and
hlack-ieather bag. filed with books
and papers. although it seemed In.
tended for groceries
Thus accoutered, and thus surround.
ed. the professor took from his pocket
sRy-blue pencil, surmounted by a
tremendous eraser OF red rubber
Then he swung back the front cover
of his book and proceeded to correct a
few examination papers.
utterly unconscious OF the traffic, OF
pedestrians, OF building operations go.
Ing on across the street, he devoted the
few minutes before the arrival of the
bus to checking up the mental status
of his scholars.
IL was While thus enga ged that he
received the curious glances Of pas.
sersby. some of whom even went to
the extent of turning around as they
walked to get better look at the man
Il X -
To me he seemed great deal more
than IA differently dressed being on a
street filled with light gray suits,
short skirts. and other garments a la
mode. Beneath that cloak and that
hat. inside those garments, was an
individual. n man devoted TO the in
tellectual life.
Well may you stare, then. curious
passerby. for this man is not as you
are. He cares little for the movies"
or the base ball games or the thou.
sand.ard-one happenings that intrigue
your gayer fancy. The joys OF the
mind are all his happiness, which, pur.
suing, give him the gayety which you
get in other ways.
The professor stood there, 1t seemed
to me, a warning to a more jovial gen
GRAFTON, a yeritable signpost. saying
to all who had eyes TO see:
Walk not too long the primrose
path of senses. but turn. before 1t is
too late. into the philosophers walk,
where the joys OF the intellectual life
call with sweet voices.
Follow me, bright children, and |
will show you the true way 10 happi-
ness. which. for man, comes through
the proper application of the mind to
the intriguing studies set here by God
for us to solve"
With such an invitation and because
l had nothing else to do. ! decided to
get aboard the bus with the profes-
sor and sit, II not exactly at his feet.
at least across the aisle from him.
Whatever he taught at his educa'
tional institution-one could not imsg.
Inc him calling il "school"-would
make no particular difference on this
moving observation car. My guess
was that he was professor of the
romance languages. French, l de-
decided. was his sphere.
! felt temped to call him the "Old
Professor but a glance from his
clear, bright eyes made me hesitate
and finally drop the adjective. /
would put his age at 90 years, not
month older.
His hands were chubby, yet some.