Evening star., 1949-05-10
This and That
By Charles Z. Trdcetrell

Templeton Jones is a basketeer.
Not basketball basket but Just plain
basket, container carried on the arm. the
kind the old folks were so fond Of In the
Civil War days.
No one else at his home likes baskets
but he does, and with his usual masculine
stubbornness. has collection of them
What do you do with them. Tempo a
friend asked
Nothing" replied Jones. "Just look at
'em"
Don't you ever use them?"
"Oh. sometimes they come In handy. car
rying flowers In from the garden"
The modern woman. Jones has found out,
has little use for old-fashioned baskets.
clothes basket. now and then may be
used but even for that ancient chore other
vessels are used today. Or picnic basket
Visions of grandmother's day. when every
home group had assorted and fancy baskets
and used them to carry food from old Center
Market
Templeton Jones never quite got the idea
out of his head
He likes splint baskets. baskets colored.
baskets of woven materials, baskets with
lids and baskets without lids.
**H&
One day recently he selected one of his
favorite baskets. filled 1t with lilacs and
took it down to the Office.
1t was a fine basket of flowers. and after
the flowers were out of it. Jones thought
he might as well put 1t to use on the home
ward journey.
He started to fill it with some of his fan
mail" books etc.
1t made very neat basketful.
Jones hefted it lightly.
He wanted to stroll along r street, before
he went home, but forgot all about that until
later.
The old parade ground was full, when
Templeton Jones came around the corner at
18th street.
He thought nothing of his basket as he
strode along, but he soon discovered that
other people thought q lot of it.
One woman bugged out her eyes as II she
had never seen such a sight in all her life.
A very fat woman nearly toppled over, as
she tried to stand taller and look into the
basket.
The fat lady was 50 intent on seeing, If she
could. what was in Jones basket, that she al
most fell full length.
People began to turn around and stare.
II was while he was watching the gold
fish in florists window that Templeton
Jones discovered the attention that he and
his basket were getting.
People smiled. a few "ohed" and "ahed."
One bright young man. Jones suddenly felt
sure. made uncomplimentary remarks.
basket on F street, he reflected was q
rarity.
So far has humanity changed In recent
years, he thought to himself. that so homely
and simple thing as q neat stained basket
attracts attention.
-
Well. let them be surprised. he continued
TO think to himself. It win do them good.
to think Of o basket instead Of war of
automobiles. instead Of the terrible play and
interplay Of Stiffness. greed and anger that
combine to take up so much attention now
adays. A basket viii be q good interlude
In such thinking. Templeton Jones thought
A basket win do EN- good. drat 'em.
Who knows. he went on TO himself. but
that this basket may leave n trail OF sanity
a yard wide right straight down the middle
of r street. trail leading TO the gates Of
home.
Let there be more and better baskets
Somehow, they hold echoes OF yesterday.
They are filled with sweet dreams. are sa-
iutes to the good past that can never be
denied by mere sneers.
basket of dreams-surely that is some
thing 10 carry along r street.