The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-08-23
 FRIGHTENED BY PREACHER.
Nocturnal Pedestrian Thought Divine
 Was a Footpad.

From the Washington Post.
 Tn all my long experience of being out at all hours of the night said a man to whom groping about in dismal places and along dark and deserted streets Is no novelty, T have never known a time when it was as unsafe 1t is now for any person to be alone in an obscure and gloomy locality. I almost shudder to think what might happen if by some accident the electric lights should fail some night and leave the city in total darkness, and l presume there is a cer- tain class of people In this town now who would gladly welcome just such calamity.
 Nearly all the elders among us re- member the days when the gas lamps of the town (and these were not many), were extinguished at midnight, and then If 1t was a cloudy night it was as dark as a pocket. Then citizens who had no business out after nightfall kept to their homes, but those who did have to be out at night felt usually as secure as they diu in the day time. In the light of the frequent recurring robberies of women whenever scoundrel happens to find them ln a dark path can any one inn aRIne night travel, should the old condi- tlons prevail, would be safe experience now for man or woman?
 q remember only one time that l was ever frightened when l WdS oh iiy way home at night" said the man who was talking "That was when I was going home from d business meeting one night at Browns hotel (now the Metropoli- tan) When I started from the hotel 1t wal after midnight I lived in South east Washington, and started to walk the distance. My pocketbook had not swelled sufficinetly then to enable me to engage the service of a night liner
 orlon rainy night. and very dark. and soon after I passed upon the south side of the Capitol I imagined heard footsteps behind me. I stopped to listen and the footsteps also stopped. started on, and again l heard them. when I walked fast they were fast, and when slowed down they slowed down, and when I stopped they stopped also. At last reached corner where there was a baR- CTS shop, and in the basement that was brightly lighted were two men making up loayes of bread
 eI halted right here. There was not only light, but the company of two honest workingmen, and called out, Come on here whoever you are, and let me nave a look at you.
 "With much alacrity a man came up, and I found it was the pastor of small church in that vicinity, who had been called out to attend one of his flock who was supposed to be dying. He explained that he was very much frightened at be- ing in such solitude and darkness, and that as I seemed to be going steadily on my way, he felt that l must be a good nitizan and therefore he aimed to keep close to me. not daring to come too near lest might think he was robber and do some harm.
 eve were both scared pretty well, but we went on together from the bakeshop corner perfectly assured of being safe. And that" said the gentleman, lis the only time I felt absolutely nervous when out late on dark night put no" II 'his tou,n should be stricken with pail of imnrenetrable darkness I would not take the same walk I did on the occasion smoke of for much wealth"