Evening star., 1942-09-19

skate and play baseball and hop
scotch because they would be so
busy shopping on daddy and hot
footing it to City Hall with the in
formation.
Family relations would take an
awful nosedive as soon as it was
learned that Johnny or Jimmy or
Junior was spy of the Mayor, and
couldn't wait to get out of his high
chair and start putting an eye to
keyholes, rummaging through pants
pockets, and secreting himself be-
hind the sofa for the purpose OF
eavesdropping.
For some reason, pabulum, soft,
boiled eggs, spinach and bibs just
don't go with invisible ink and code
messages. Too, what father wants
to call his children by such names
as Agent 334452 or x-54?
Also, juniors spying wouldn't end
with papa and his gambling. From
tipping off the Mayor on how
daddys' two-horse parlay at Aque-
duct came out, he would 60 on to
putting the finger on other mem-
bers of the family.
For a fee, papa could enlist his
services to keep an eye on mamma,
and how she was making out at the
bridge games with the girls. and
how she was doing with her charge
accounts at the various stores.
1t would be only a matter of time
until the entire household would be
nest of intrigue, with every one
fearful of barring a confidence lest
junior peddle the information to
outsiders. Sister wouldn't dare kiss
her beau goodnight because the
chances are the internal little family
agent would be under the pillows In
the swing or hidden in the flower
bed.
And. Aunt Lucy would have to
give up her occasional sip Of sherry
or be willing to be blackmailed by
the juvenile gun1shoe.
There is another and even greater
danger in the Mayors suggestion
that the youngsters keep tab on how
their fathers are doing with their
bets. The danger is'that in policing
papa they themselves will be at
tracted by betting and develop into
parlay players, short-end takers, and
will spend time watching and watt
ing for a good thing" to come
along.
AS long as papa leses, Junior Is
certain to frown on betting and keep
the Mayor informed. There is MOTH
Ing attractive about horse that
runs fifth, or fighter that takes it
on the chin in the third, or base
ball team that blows a three-run
lead In the ninth. But, theren come
a day when papas two bucks are
riding on 50-to-1 shot that comes
in. Junior will have to be a strong
lad, indeed, not to be fascinated by
the winning of 500 for 81.
He is likely to gain sudden faith
in his papa; see him as an astute
business man who knows what it is
all about. The chances are that the
next time papa plunges 50 on a long
shot, junior won't visit City Hall
with the information for fear Of
knocking down papa's price from
50-to-1 to 40-to-1.
He'll start studying the magazines
that papa does. When he is sup
posed to be buried in his geography
he'll be reading the past perform
ances, and his arithmetic book will
hide scratch sheet. He'll give more
attention to mudders than to the
principal rivers and their tributaries,
and he'll be able to recite the names
Of the principal jockeys quicker
than he will the Presidents of the
United States.
Yes, the Mayor stuck his neck out.
Speaking of sticking the neck out,
We hope that thing we have going
In the fifth today remembers to
stick his out. He was beaten by a
whisker the last time he went to
the post
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