The Washington herald., 1907-12-29
MADE NIGHT HIDEOUS
Uptown Residents Reused at
an Early Hour.
CURL PAPER CONFERENCE HELD
One Angry NeiGhbOr Thinks a Wife
Is Being Beaten, Another Shifts mt
Wants Acquaintance to Change
His Brand-It Was but an Owl.

When a series o. weird. untimely
shrieks that apparently came from the
housetops rent the air and awoke from
their peaceful slumber a score or more
citizens of one Of the Weil-knOwn resi-
Dental streets of the city the other morn
ing a few hours before daybreak. indig-
nation was at its heighth.
The nerve-wrecking noises happened at
an hour when the streets were almost
deserted. Several belated pedestrians re-
turning from as night of revelry and an
occasional milkman making his rounds
were the only persons 10 be seen. Within
the houses Of this heretofore peaceful
locality. however, both young and old
were in the midst Of what has been term
ed their beauty sleep" Many had but
a short time before returned from YuIe-
tide festivities. and in the minds of the
younger generation visions Of sugar
plums still danced.
1t was at such an hour THAI the pierre
ing sounds issued forth from somewhere
At times they seemed to'cOme from one
housetop and then again from another
some distance up the street Windows
at all quarters were suddenly thrown
open and from behind Christmas decOra-
tions heads were thrust out and specula-
ton ventUred as TO the cause sf the rude
noises which had disturbed the sleep OF
such peace-ioving residents
Unique Collection of Faces.
The faces that loomed UP at the diff
ferent openings were a collection which
one seldom has the opportunity Of be
holding. In one window could be seen
the white night-cap Of the spinster. in
another a mass Of curling papers equally
as unique. The same head which one
would swear he had seen the very day
the grandest hair. appeared TO be al
most bald MulucOlored dressing gowns
made the scene even more fantastic
On every face was the same question
ing look, but numerous and diversed were
their comments and suggestions.
Il advised that man to change his
brand bout a month ago, ventured one
indignant citizen
THAT crazy woman on the next block
who imagines that she can sing had bet
ter select a more appropriate hour for her
practice time or I'll report the matter 10
the police" asserted another.
"Oh. I'll bet that's Mr.. So-and-So
beating his wife again" said one in =
creation of curling papers. I'D rather
be dead than have 10 endure such a life
as that poor woman leads. Her hus-
bands a perfect brute. Ny. won't
have lot 10 tell Mrs. Blank when I see
her at the club tomorrow? 1 just know
she'll be crazy TO hear all about il"
no MIN ole
reigned in that quarter
These comments were, indeed, Of a ver-
sifed nature. Some were, 20 say the
least. emphatic and we'll 10 the point
With short. chOppy sentences. many Of
the indignant citizens expressed their
sentiments. and Notwithstanding the fact
that the night was clear as a crystal, the
air in many places had a blueish hue.
Strange Sounds Continue.
Despite the comments suggestions and
denunciations which came forth from
every direction. the strange sounds con-
tinued to rent the air with a marked reg
Ularity. Several OF the beIated pedes-
trians who had been attracted by the
noises. craning their necks, made a sur
vey Of the tree tops in search Of the IN
timely disturbance.
1t was one of these persons who finally
discovered the seat of all the trouble.
Perching on one of the topmost branches
Of tree silhouetted against the then
full moon was d large owl with full
grown hooting accomplishments The
same class Of bird can be seen back on
the farm" nightly in almost any old dead
tree
How the peace disturbing bird managed
to find his way into the city is still
mystery TO many II Is sufficient to say
that it did so. and then, apparently proud
of his deed, wished TO make his presence /
known to the sleeping population. He
succeeded without doubt, but many of
the indignant individuals who appeared
at the windows never learned the identity
OF the creator of the piercing shrieks, and
returned to their beds with ample sub
ject matter for either complaint, denun-
citation, or gossip.