Evening star., 1943-04-17
&@.hzxA2n 6fAMhvmy/
& lwMARION HARGROVF

Since I am a patient and long
suffering child, make no scathing
remarks in return for these jaded
witticisms. 1 merely shrug my frail
shoulders pathetically and seek
greener pastures. 1t isn't so bad,
their refusing the match. The worst
part of it is the reminder of an Incl
dent which might well be forgotten.
The incident is of no consequence,
but it might as we'll come off my
chest.
Being a slave to the despoiler of
human health and well-being, the
cigarette, l still have a fondness
for an occasional switch to a pipe.
I don't especially enjoy the taste of
pipe tobacco, and 1 don't believe
even the most avid pipe smoker
especially cares for it. Most of them,
like me, merely like the feel of
pipe in their mouths and the dignity
and solemnity a pipe gives them
when they punctuate their conver-
sations by jabbing the air with it.
Smoking pipe only occasionally, 1
still have not become overly pro-
flcient at keeping the little things
burning. When 1 buy can of to-
bacco I buy scent box of country
matches with it. Half my smoke is
tobacco; the other half is Georgia
pine smoke from the matchsticks.
l was busy typing out a story, and
had lit my pipe for about the
22d time. I threw the match into
the wastebasket and forgot all
about the whole thing. 1 was alb
Sorbed in my work.
Unending Heckling
I noticed by degrees that our
office was becoming lighter and
warmer. I noted the fact with
rich feeling of comfort, but no
great interest in finding out the
cause. 1t wasn't until I reached
for another match to light that
pipe again that 1 noticed my waste
basket. The thing had in it
cheerful little blaze bright enough
to take action photographs on
moonless night.
There was nothing to get ex-
cited about, I told the remainder
OF the public relations staff, the ser
geant majors corps of assistants
and the filing department. I nom
chalantly put my foot into the bas-
ket and started stamping out the
fire. The thing would have worked,
too, except that the length of my
foot was greater than the diameter
of the Wastebasket. The foot stuck
and I could not stamp.
Corpl. Sager of Plans and Train
ing leaped to the rescue. pried the
foot from the basket, grabbed the
basket and sped away to the water
cooler 1 followed him and poured
myself cup of water. I still saw
no cause for excitement.
To the bystanders' catcalls. un-
seemly laughter and accusations of
arson, I turned a fatherly ear and
a quieting voice. I explained pa
tiently that setting fire to waste
baskets was an ancient and honored
pastime in the newspaper world. 1
told them that one of the best
neWspapermen North Carolina has
ever seen-"Uncle John" Dickson.
former city editor of the News-used
to set his wastebasket on fire at
least twice week by tossing ciga-
rettes or burning matches into it.
1t was mark of certain industry,
sign that a man was wrapped up
in his work
Nevertheless, the incident has
established for me new reputation
of carelessness and absent minded
ness, one which l do not deserve.
l shall be hooted at from the win
doWs of the Service Club. Even
green rockies will snicker when
dodder down Headquarters street.
1t does no good to point out
Bushemi, who often walks out of
the mess hall with his dirty dishes
in his hands, or Mulvehill. who puts
new blades in his razor without
removing the old ones and thereby
gives his face the old bacon -sicer
treatment. Nothing does any good.
Whenever I try to defend myself I
get deeper in the mess.
1dleness and soft living have made
my comrades a bunch of drawing
room hecklers. Bov. wouldn't I like
to get these babies out on maneuvers
with me.
TO be continued.D
(Copyrieht, 1943, by Henry Holt & COZ