Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-02-20
SUB ROSA
ny MIMI.
The Practical Joke.

Practical joking isn't as popular in
these days as 1t once was. That Is,
there are no more clever young men left
in the world to think up jokes on a
whole government.
But the petty practical Joker is still
with u.s. He is busy all the time on his
clever little schemes. and some OF them
really have very satisfactory results.
Joe and Dot are noted for their amaZ-
ing resourcefulneSs in fooling people.
Recently they concocted truly remark
able scheme. Knowing that Jane. a
rather hard-up working girl with no
sense OF humor, was in love with boy
In her Office. they devised method of
encouraging her in her rather hopeless
passion.
She came to her daily job one morn
ing to find on her desk little note
really friendly, charming little note
from her adored
The fact that he worked In depart
ment far removed from hers helped the
practical jokers quite q bit-made 1t
easier for them to fake a handwriting
which she had never seen. anyway.
James rather slow face flushed with
Joy as she read the missive. and her
two co-workers. watching from their
desks. cackled with pleasure.
Thereafter Jane beamed with happi-
ness on the unsuspecting young man
who. she had reason to believe, was
rather interested in her. She vas some
what bewildered to receive no more than
the ordinary friendly business greeting
from him. but with the persistent self
delusion o! a girl in love. she continued
to hope that his shyness would break
down and that. some day soon, he
might dare In ask for date
Presently the jokers played their sec
ond card-another note. just little
more friendly, telling the excited maid
en- that the writer's tim!d!ty prevented
his approaching her in the Office, but
that soon he did hope 20 make date
with her
On the strength OF that, the plain
little girl actually bought a new dress
Her heart beating high with hope. she
passed through the Office in a perfect
mist OF rosy anticipation. She grew
more Self-confdent. more assured with
each hours: And the conspirators
watched and giggled.
Their trump was played one rainy
day when Jane was due at home early
to help her mother with the youngest
children. II was then that she received
the invitation TO show. And being a
girl in love. she forgot her mother snd
the youngest children. She forgot
everything She knew only that her
hero had told her 10 meet him At 8
o'clock sharp-and she knew she must
be there: she mustn't disappotnt him.
AT 8 she stood In the lobby. bright
eyed. trembling with excitement, nery-
Gus and apprehensive. At Sis she faced
Dot and Joe. both shriek:ng with laugh
ter. thoroughly delighted with the sue
cess Of their immense Jest.
Perhaps even they suffered minutes
remorse when they saw the hope and
light so out OF that plain face--when
they realized that they had made q
dreary life even drearier than ii had
been before.
That sort OF joking Is another polite
name for cruelty-~downright shame
full cruelty. And the perpetrators OF
these innocent diversions are in very
truth criminals.
We have no right 10 tamper with
the lives OF Others, We have certainly
no right to subject our fellow beings 10
shame and hurt and Disappointment.
or course. not all iokeSte-s carry their
prankS To such extremes But many
3 one has caused n wound so deep that
years have not sutiieed Ia heal It, The
practical Joke Is irhuman and indecent.
tCouNrtght 1881