Evening star., 1925-06-28
This and That
By Charles E. TraceDeH.

A tall man. IN Topping. wide trous-
ers, tight coat and brand new straw
hat. strolled calmly down Pennsyl-
vania avenue In the driving rain.
1t was the first real rain that had
hit the Avenue in many weeks during
the day time. having been preceded
the night before, however, by the
downpour that broke the back of the
drought.
The arched entrance ways of the
Post Office Department building were
flled with paSsersby who had taken
refuge from the falling water. In the
groups. too. were employees about
ready to go home.
The rain slashed the black asphslt
with haze of silver lines, in the beau.
t1ful way raindrops have of making
pictures If one really looks at them
Etain. of course, can be lust rain"
then again IT can be a picture maker
a combination of drops of water and
imagination, in perhaps equal parts
The man in the white straw hat
seemed 10 be making an actual mix
ture of his ingredients.
As unconcernedly as If the sun were
shining, he ambled along the side
walk, while hundreds of persons in
doorways watched his watery progress
Some of them called him a fool in
SO many words.
He doesn't have to stay out there
remarked one. HE can come in
he Is just trying to show off" said
another dry one.
His straw hat won't he worth 4.
cents added a third
Why do people insist on walking IN
driving rain, anyway?
Perhaps not l in 1000 is forced
to do so. especially when II is evident
to all that the rain will shortly "let
| up as the expression is.
Yet they walk along, like the man
In the straw hat. stopping themselves
from mead to foot, so that by the
time they get to their destination
ana the sun comes out-they will he
dripping.
They remind one of the dear old
| ladies who are always in such q
| hurry they needs must take chances
In crossing the streets. BUSY execu-
tives. hustling statesmen. these and
hundred active men wait carefully to
allow automobiles to pass
! Do the sweet old ladieso Not on
their sweet old lives. Each carefully
takes her life in her withered. time
III
| full into the tide Of traffic.
| Heaven will stoop to take care of
| virtue. Milton tells US, but the auto
| mobile had not been invented when
! he wrote that. Nothing but ones
wits, agility and care Will help one
in the middle of PENNSYLVANIA
| avenue.
If one simply has to get some
| place by a certain time, then he is
| justified in plowing along through the
| rain. If not. he had better step into
a doorway, as others do, and bide his
| time.
! To most people there is no worse
| feeling in everyday life than to have
wet feet and clothing sopped with
rainwater.
| There is certain squashy feeling
about water-logged shoes that is ex-
tremely disconcerting in civilian life.
| Imagine interviewing "prospect'
with water flowing from toe to heel,
Keeping the feet dry has medical
| sanction, anyway. as well as that of
common sense
| With dry feet one may stand in a
| doorway to enjoy the bea4dty of the
| rain in Summer. whereas = - saA.
are wet he is too occupied with his
| own thoughts to be a receptive stu
Gent OF n~1ural happenings.
The man who gets the most out Of
life finds time for these little things.
| To him a. rain is something more
| than a disagreeable interruption To
him railroad station is vastly more
than just place to tediously while
| away time until his train comes in
To this person life is a wonderland.
and one of it's wonders is the beat
| ing, silver rain on Summer after
| noon.