Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-02-20

way through the rest of the story:
Well. they put on one program at
big outside building for the benefit
Of the public And the auditorium
and galleries were packed to the limit.
When the session was over, that big
crowd found that its only exit was
through the half of double door: the
other half was stuck fast. And as
the people filed out through that mar
row space il wasn't fiattering to this
town to hear comments passed upon 1t
by the visitors to the convention.
Says one:
Washington is only q country
town after all-the idea of being
Gagged in like this
Country town. If this had hap
pened in a country town. this block
up would have been smashed free at
the start.
"A big man with loud voice stood
at the head of the stairs shouting di-
rections to those near the door. how
TO work the combination: but no one
could make that closed half door
bulge, and the man in charge was un-
able to get at the core of danger be-
cause of the human jam between.
Being an intelligent mass, naturally
no one called out Fire to see what
would happen, but suppose some one
had become hysterical and cried out
there's no telling what would have
been the result. When we read with
horror about such fires as the one at,
say, Quantico and at schools and way
off. lonely farm homes. where no one
can help. we never seem to be thank
full for the dangers we escape"
Which is worthwhile remark.
And a good thing is always worth
passing on.
THERE came another ViSitor-a
very ancient lady. accompanied by
middle-aged granddaughter, who
served as walking stick and guide.
The one extra chair was placed at her
disposal, and having enthroned her.
self and opened the mink collar of her
coat-or, rather, having the. grand
daughter do 1t for her-she announced
with a snappy alertness that belied
her decades:
You will think 7 am as foolish as
that historic coot, but. as L tell my
girl here. old folks must be humored
and, anyhow, l wouldn't be bother
ing you except that / was told in
that big room out yonder that you
would tell me what / want to know"
With this prelude, the ancient lady
asked If the woman at the desk was
acquainted with a certain actor now
playing in .Washington-and didn't
she suppose he must be the grandson
of musician who used to be famous
i'm Washington before the Civil War?
Being only human, the woman at
the desk admitted gnorance-which
obviously pleased the visiting lady,
who wanted to do all the talking her
self
My dear, he used to lead the or
chestra at the National Theater-and
also for dances-the dancers. the var
souviana, schottisches, quadrilles and
everything. He was q most gifted
artist, my dear, and everybody fair
~ went wild over him and his players
No one has ever since given this
town such gay and melodious tuneful-
ness-and the matches he made
mine among them
The middle-aged granddaughter's
eyes appealed to the desk woman for
patience. The desk woman responded
by patting the ancient lady's bit of
blue-veined hand. and things being
settled satisfactorily, the story went
on:
We had uarreled-merely a love
spat. Of course. but very serious to
us at the time-and each of us f1irted
around desperately until, one night.
at ball where we happened to be.
the band struck up wonderful Bird
Waltz composed by the leader him.
self, and without a word I whirled
out Of the arms of my partner into
those OF my dear Daniel-and the part
ing was over forever. He was an
adorable young man, SO loving, and SO
handsome, with blue eyes, and brown
hair that had a wave to it. But God
took him, dear, dear boy
He vas So when he died"-the in
corruption was made by the grand
daughter-but the star talker paid no
attention.
And we made a lovely couple:
everybody remarked it was so fair
and fragile and he so big and splen-
didly strong. And when / read the
name Of the actor who is billed to
play here. just felt that / would like
TO know if he wasn't grandson to that
dear genius who brought us together.
My dear. they used to say that people