Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-06-18

JrEER scenes are enacted in the
a shades and shadows of Washing
b ton and beneath the Pickering rays
of electric lights, or in the yellow
glare of gas lamps, from midnight,
when the city sleeps. until gray streaks in
the east announce the arrival of dawn,
when the city is awakening.
The business thoroughfares in central
Washington. which during the daylight
hours resound with the noises of traffic and
present a hurly burly panorama ever chang
ing. of human activity wear a very differ
ent aspect from midnight till morning. The
footballs of the lone policeman as he
patrols his beat send flying echoes hither
and thither. The silence is intense; at
times almost oppressive, and the voices Of
occasional felnes engaged in battle sound
like walls from lost souls In perdition. On
streets that are crowded in the daytime
with pedestrians solitary figure can be
seen for blocks away and the resounding
footsteps heard during the early morning
hours. from l to 8 o'clock. All Is different
when the city sleeps.
Lights out" according to the vernacu-
lar of the rounder. is when the town bells
are tolling the midnight hour, for 1t is then
the saloons lock their doors and "douse
their glims" and the thirsty patrons. in
various stages of 'intoXication, are turned
Out upon the streets 10 WanOer amnesty
about and perchance fall into the clutches
of the law, or find their way home as best
they can.
Help policer suddenly sounds on the
midnight air. "Biff! bang! bingr and they
are at 1t hammer and tongs. Three half
drunken fellows with fancied grievances
who have just been showed from the door
OF bar room, are engaged in a scrap and
the air resounds with their oaths and shout
ing. Then there is q hurrying of heavy
footballs and the stalwart forms Of two
policemen arrive on the scene. The fighters
are collared and followed by the crowd are
taken TO the nearest patrol box hurry
up call Is sent to the station house and in a
few minutes the changing gong announces
the approach of the patrol wagon to re-
move the combatants to a cell preliminary
TO their appearance as prisoners in the
Police Court on the following morning to
answer to any one Of variety of charges
Further along the street several belated
pedestrians have congregated about a dark
object in the gutter. It is the PROSTATE
form OF drunken man, who while reeIing
along has fallen head first A patrolman.
attracted by the small gathering. comes
along and examines the intoxicated indi-
vidual He has received bad cash on his
head and Is bleeding profusey The hurry
up wagon is sent for.
Take him to the Emergency and
have his head dressed" says the patrol
man to the wagon officer. then lock him
up Charge him with plain drunk
Down on Pennsylvania avenue In the
sam PieCinClr diiotHeT pOHceMan mas taken
a prisoner. The culprit looks more like an
animated bundle of rags than like human
being. Under the electric light at the cor
Ter on the way to the patrol box. his fea-
lures can be seen. They are wan and bag
gard. His face is covered with a week s
growth of beard and he makes no protest
against his arrest. The sergeant joins the
Iatrolman.
What's he been doing?" he asks
Nag, replied the patrolman. HE was
holding up pedestrians. Gave them the
Old yarn about wanting ten cents for a
nights lodging"
AS the patrol wagon was taking the out
cast away to the station house he said
YEARLY:
m glad I'm goin' under cover and will
get square meal at last"
for an hour or so after the saloons have
Closed their doors for the night an occa-
siohai tipsy rounder can be seen stagger-
ing along. Sometimes the fellow is wan
oerlng almlessly. but more often he is look
ing Tor a speakeasy" where he can get
bracer or two to renew the alcoholic stimu-
!ation that Is dying out within him. Should
ne ran TO find such a place, and II can be
said to the credit of Washington that there
are comparatively few all-night whisper
shops" in operation. the thirsty rounder
will often continue his wanderings or oc-
cupy seat in some park until o'clock
am. when a number of saloons open their
doors for the days traffic.
Ludicrous mistakes have been made by