Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1949-06-15
This and That
BIZ Charles Z. TracepeH

Templeton Jones had his flrst rloe III one
of the midget cars the other day, ana asloe
from scarcely being able to get in. and nno-
ing it even more difficult to get out. nao an
enjoyable time.
The fact that he was almost stretched out
did not bother him in the least. He rather
liked it. Some of the big puffy looking cars
give little If any more room.
The cozness of the affair intrigued him
II there was a certain "tinny' feeiing. tnat
no doubt was due to his own ideas o. pro-
lection.
Tones has never owned motor car. and
has sometimes wondered why.
Are people who do not have cars cowaros,
old-fashioned, or shall we say wise?
Some of Jones' best friends have told him
1t is the latter.
"You are WISE" he recalls one straight
shooter telling him, years ago. as ne leaned
against the fence in the alley.
- -
That old fence still comes back to him.
from time to time.
In that community, and in that year. the
dear gone days after World War ]. the alley
behind the houses had more character tnan
the street.
1t was over in Georgetown. which always
had more character than Washington, any
way.
The alley took ION a great deal from the
people who lived there. but the street re-
manned more or less the same. (Of course.
after the street was concerted. 1t was dug up
again for something or other. That always
seems to happeno
The alley was concreted. too. but no work.
men ever came to dig 1t up.
The kids and the dogs played in 1t. and
shrubs and flowers grow up over the COM
paratively low wire fences.
Recently Templeton Jones went through
that alley and scarcely recognized It, This
was because trees had grown. too. The alley
was much the same. as much thoroughfare
as any. This was an alley of character. II
know each lane and every alley green" sang
Milton Templeton Jones knew but one alley
thoroughly, this very one. He had named 1t
Esstee alley and the name had stuck.
Alleys of the National Capital always
struck him as deserving more space than
they got Not all Of them. by any means. are
in the class of what one thinks Of when dis
cussing alley dwellings. Many of our alleys
are wide and cool. fragrant with shrubs. and
as clean as any streets.
Even in some of the older parts Of town.
the vistas of alleys strike every curious per-
son. Usually they are marrow. as befits the
origin of a covered way. Usually they have
high-board fences. Drowned by the elements.
Otter stray cat is seen. Not too often the
dirt and debris often associated In the public
mind with an alley. It all depends. evidently.
Normally the street cleaning department
does good job here.
The fences, even the highest ones, are
overlooked by nodding evergreens. Many Of
the alleys are paved with cobble stones A
modern touch has been introduced In recent
years with the installation Of stone bumpers
on the sides of houses ahutting the entrances.
These are markers of the big truck age.
Washington alleys are no delight TO the
truckers. We once saw big one trying to
| get into narrow alley downtown. This was
on G street. The truck backed, Of course.
| and tried for the narrow mouth. and missed
| it. The man at the wheel began to grow red
| In the face Finally he swore. much 10 the
| delight Of some oafish onlookers. to the hor-
ror of good ladies standing there. IT took
| the man about Is minutes 10 make Ii, by
which time he almost had apoplexy.
We passed that alley again, some weeks
later. and as there was another big truck
about to attempt the passage. we stopped 70
see-and hear-the fun.
But as so often Is the case. when one
makes up ones mind TO something, this time
| 1t was all different. This driver was an ex-
| pert. He whixzed into that alley as easily as
| II it had been 100 feet wide. He did not miss
| the sides by more than inches. but inches
was enough for him that morning. He was
| good.
Templeton Jones suddenly snapped out Of
| his bemusement He had started out In .
| little car, and somehow had ended In his
favorite alley. where we leave him for the
time being.