The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1882-11-10
THE STREETS AT NIGHT.


Wee smn' lfourS.
Wheeling Is comparatively a small city
and 10 most respects 10 anything but metro
politan In her aspects and habits but Their,
are, some phase, OF lie here whose reaem
blnuoe TO life In large city would strike the
viewer whose observation was attracted BY
them for the ilrstiime. II is said that one,
hRll the world does not know how the olhe,
half lives and ~ well might |. be said tina,
ohe-half ot our own citizens would scarcely
recognize their Own city under different cir.
c,'nstances from those they arc wont to see
around them as they hurry to and fra
about their daily business. IT'S
Il, the .gtare OF the gas.!fght II change Is
noticeable. In the early hours Of the even.
Ing enough scenes oil suggestive nature are
Observable TO set TO work tue mind uf Gu I'M.
hginative 'leS.rlau, and II some Of tho clues
were followed up interesting Developments
might follow. Hut the !feuuenters Of the
thoroughfares before the night has grown old
nre. comparatively uhlntercsting. Even the
cyil ducts who move among the throng OF wo.
men nnd men are rather amateurs. 1t Is
only after niidnights mystic hour has sound.
I'll from the State House tower, and the ere.
while crowded sidewalks ure almost deserted,
that the nietamorphosis u duy into night Is
plainly dlscernatle In the ciass OF people
one meets and In the changed aspect OF af.
fairs. The city Is silent The constant rui.
Tie Of tho countless wheels over
the bonldered streets gives way 10 the
stiffness of u country town on d summers
afternoon. The rattle OF Il printing press In
II newspaper establishment, the clicking OF
the saunders In Il telegraph office, greets ,he
eur II square away, whereas In the day time
it can scarcely behenrd outside ihs bpiilinp
aud the hoaHe pulling OF 4 towboat propeii.
Ing Its laden barGes down the river, which
pnsses unnoticed amid the busy hum of day,
sounds like ne snoring OF some monster over
weared and fallen asleep. An occasional
market wagon with Its dim candle, lltnkins
It's front tLumps slowly over the uneve,
streets, or nh omnibus rastles at u lively rate
toward one OF the depots.
Ones footsteps resOund on the sidewalk,
and the obsetyant stroller can torn a pretty
good idea OF The nun who Is approaching u
hundred yards away. He can iell whether
It Is the quick, firm tread Of the business man
who is out rs a sort OF sassceAble necessity,
or the lcisurcly tread OF the man who Is nc.
ctsiomel to midnight stro!ling; the heavy
sound Of the hobna!lcu shoes OF the tired
mill igan returning home from work, or tho
shulllins walk OF the red iusetl patriot who
has list arrived In the city ind wants to
borrow Quarter to get Il nights lodging
The first passes you with II respectable look
and perhaps half nod the other looks ut
you rs If he would Just rs leave tap you on
the head with Il sing.shot or handy billy
~ cat a .bee.steak for breakfast, II
there were no policemen around. Ia
the out.of.thewuy streets the silence OF
the early morning hours Is oppressive md
disagreeable, and tho pedestrian Is glad TO OK.
chanseit for the CHEEKY ireside ut home. But
Oh the muin Streets The amount Of travel,
though comparatively small, is OF M extent
that would surprise many. A part OF the
people ole notices at . O'Clock in the morn.
Ing, "sS obviously thcra on legitimate hUsi.
ness. The physician, for Instance, who has
been waSened up and is hurrying to his
patient or eisurely returning home his coat
collar turned up us preCuution against the
to.sy air, The night men in various employ
ments whose days work has just ended, and
last but not least the newspaper man, whose
avocatlon makes him part OF the not incor.
siderable thrung until the clock strikes three.
But the greater number u,e those who
"see K the tlar knees because their deeds are
eyi..' They find midnight Tie best time for
carrying out enGaysNenis TINT they would
Ike to have Kept from tho rest OF the warld,
Some OF them throns into the all.uigl., 50.
loons and make part OF the crowd that IL
ready ut any time for u treat or II fight. Par,
Of the crowd Of midnight walkers are
gamblers, gentlemen who always find their
own wits Sharper and their victims more
gu!lib!eat ngh.,hnn in day time. A large
"umhef Of tlase whom one sees in the streets
after midnight are we'll arsssed yoDng men
who have been ''out with the boys,h lust
wiIerc, they would not like their friends to
know. This class has increased wonderfully
within the last few years, according TO
the statements Of the nightwatchmen
and the observation OF tie reporters,
Much q thls.s no 'ifTtt d.c to the very few
"al! hight Saloons which now 90 ti,,.yin,:
business, though it Enthusiastically inlicates
I'LL iucrease Of gambling md other vices,
which IL iEe ipa?iiable concomitant OF the
town. "''~ f7'
The oldest resident Of Wheeling, it would
be ,sa;e To- ssy. would Hud much to interest
and surprise him. something TO RMuse, and
Ut !cau! ii little 10 instruct, in y walk ia ihe
hours between midnight and Daylight about
the streets, with which, In Tho brnall glare OF
day, he has been familiar all his life.