The Dickinson press. (Dickinson, Stark County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1927, 1889-02-02
AFTER p O'CLOCK.
THE GREWsoMENEss OF THE VOICES
OF THE NIGHT.
Scenes i'll the Streets of n Great City Be-
tween the Graveyard Hour and the
N;ofOinr

Night in great city is an impressive and
"wcsone time, filled with strange and, to the
rnimtated, uninteligible sounds, strange
sights and strange deeds. There is PECULIAR
indescribable sense OF something mysterious
III the air: the atmosphere rests in folds upon
the CITY, and is heavy and almost palpable to
the touch the sounds are acoustic etchings,
the sharp outlines blurred and dinlmed but
the meaning and expression impressively
clear distinct and mellow. Values and per-
spcctives are either entirely lost or gro
tesquely distorted. Soft airs, unnatural and
grur>omely cool, steal in their currents
round the corners, with n suggestion of damp
vaults or still, black waters in their breath.
BAY1NG THE MOON
1t is still. The silence is heavy and oppres.
sive. Yet seems unnatural. All sorts of gro
tesque thoughts obtrude themselves in dis
connected and scnseless confusion. A quick
football StartleS the ear and echoes sharply
back from the tall brick walls. You watch
ln'ently till Il form is vaguely outlined in
tue black shadow of the opposite wall, and
feel intensely disappointed because the eve
fails to make it out distinctly, and the imagi-
nation Immediately busies itself in framing
all kinds of suggestions regarding him.
which are suddenly broken off by the sharp
barking of Il dog. The barking continues.
4 iiH animal is baying the moon because-bc-
cause he is Il dog and has to. But why did
Providence implant such an absurd, useless
and totally irrelevant necessity in dogs
economy: This question begins to assume an
overwhelming and vital Importance, when
II is driven from the mind by sharp
rattle far Off up the street. What is
''4at: The vehicle approaches, IL curiosity
Is keenly alert. 1t approaches rapidly, and
:;,sseS with din that irritatcS every nerve
IN the body. 1t is only Il lis;lt carriage, con-
tanning II tired man, who is Fastening home
to bed. Gradually the sounds die away, hut
- '!pncnt latcrtle silence is again dcsecratcd
by heavy voices in maudlin dispute "A
PARTY of roisterers are leaving saloon.
ih"y stop on the corner and engage ina long,
nlnlcSS and heated discussion over the most
trivial subject, but finally break up, with
bouts and protestatons of mutual regard,
and the last car rolls slowly up the street
with Two or three passengers whose slumbcls
an rudeCly broken by their noisy entrance.
y cool breeze steals up from the river, and Il
ii.,it, scarcely visible opalinc mist floats
over the streets like vail Strange, half
alNiculate sounds issue from the bosom of
'' '''so'ie eiit'D my ol WIcTl
deeds, yet leave the story half untold and
stir the Imagination to wild flights.
Far down the river the deep, full notes of
II steamers whistle rise in mellow cadence
that rolls slowly along the sodden air. Up
rrishboring street an owl car bell family
iin2sles, and n moment later the clocks in
aeighhoring church towers de .iberatcly strike
I;Ic wee, sma' hour. Again there is the
sound of hurrying wheels far down the
'reet, and soon the faint strokes of n gong
TIE heard. All! fire The sound increases,
end then swells louder with sudden burst
''d there is a flash of light and long train
.. bright sparks trail out u moment on the
,lr, and the engine has passed There is no
'econd sound and the noise dies away 1t is
owing very late and the silence becomes
teeper. The moon rides high and her pol
hcd beams play strange tricks with familiar