Evening star., 1932-06-17
THIS AND THAT
BY CHARLES E. TRACEWELL.

Beware the Greeks when they com,
bearing gifts"
What universal application that OLE
saying still has!
When people do nice things for you
in this age. often they have something
up their sleeve.
1t is too bad, II 1t puts the suspicion!
the sad truth is that often 1t work.
out SO.
And every one knows 1t does.
The man or woman who today prof
fers friendship tomorrow may attempt
to turn 1t to advantage.
There was the lady, for instance whit
made gift Of an old washing machin,
to another woman.
The latter accepted gladly, though
not without some slight misgiving.
She felt ashamed of herself for hel
suspicious. believing that they were to-
tally unfounded unworthy of the gen.
erous person who made her the gift
and particularly lacking in gratitude OF
her own part.
Just for a second she had permitted
this question to flash through hel
mind: Why is she giving me this?"
The lady was leaving for another
section Of the country, and said sht
did not care to go to the expense ano
trouble Of Grating the machine anc
taking 1t with her. Besides. she wen
on, 1t needed few slight repairs.
The repairs needed were somewhat
more than Slight" as 1t developed
but, nevertheless, the washing machine
was q very nice gift.
The 1adv hr,IShed aStda her haSjt
tiOns
She accepted gladly. had the repair!
made, and used the machine-for two
weeks.
She then received a letter from hel
dear friend. in which the latter sale
that she was making a return visit tt
Washington, on some small business Of
other.
She rather more than hinted that II
would be splendid thing if her deal
friend would invite her to her home
She ended by expressing the hopt
that the washing machine was in gooc
working order
MY dear Mabel" ran the letter she
got by return mail, John and will bt
delighted to have you AS our guest fol
a few days. You must not think a mo-
ment Of going to any of the hotels. w,
would feel real grieved If you did no
come to our house." etc.
Needless to say. with such an invi
tation, Mabel came right out from
Union Station.
Her business affairs in the cit,
proved capable OF being cleaned up IL
two or three days, but Mabel showeS
no particular disposition to 60 home.
John and Mrs. John eyed each other
OCCASIONALLY, over the tea cups, bu
heroically said nothing. not even Il
each other, not at any time.
Mabel was having a good time, anc
the poor girl deserved it
Didn't she have a washing machine
worth OF lodging coming to her?
Mabel indicated that she would bt
glad TO go to movies and other thea
tiers and places Of entertainment. Hel
hosts, OF course. would not permit hel
Tor a moment to think OF paying hel
own way, and as for paying for all Of
them, why. that was impossible
So Mabel became a guest in all tn,
accepted ways
She enjoyed herself so much that sht
spent full two weeks Just as sh,
was getting onto the train she casually
asked how the washing machine wa.
performing.
The next month Mabel had a few
more business affairs to attend to il
Washington.
What could be more natural then
than that she write to her dear friends
who had entertained her so pleasantly
and so Loyalty?
Never shall forget the gracious wa,
you took care OF me on my last visit,
| wrote she. 1t will always be a beau
tiful memory"