Los Angeles herald., 1908-02-15
WAR CLOUD
HOVERS NEAR
PRETTY HOME
PROTECTION" WALL ERECTED
BY WOMAN
PEACE, TROUBLE, FENCE AND
RoILERMAKERS MIX
Owner Smiles sweetIy and Says 1t
VIII Be a Highly Decorated
Structure, but Neigh
bors ScoWl


hood the residents are having a merry
powwow of portentious proportions.
An ominous war cloud seems to be
lowering in the lurid atmosphere, and
noises indicative of something doing
lend interest to the scene. It's not an
imaginary Japanese war cloud, either,
but real old time revolutionary AFFAIR
that in density and complexion-which
is decidedly brunette-somewha re-
sembles one of those Texas funnel
clouds-the kind that make the rural
folk hike hurriedly to the dugout or
sneak to a mountain till the fun Is
over.
In the background a row of dainty
little bungalows. all newly built and
freshly painted with harmonizing hues
that lend a suggestion of quiet and har-
mony to the neighborhood. But the
suggestion is dead wrong. Venture
real closely if you've got the nerve
and you are liable to stumble into an
undertow of discord that would make
a Comanche battle caucus look like
Quaker prayer meeting.
The undertow of discord is all pro-
duced by high board fence. It's not
spite fence-oh, goodness, no! 1t
is distinguished by a much more mod
ern and classic name, probably derived
from some Boston lexicon. It's a-a-a
protection fence.
Mrs. J. Henry Wood is the instigator
of this towering Chinese wall, and it
is built between the two properties at
152 and 154 Bartol street, where dwell,
respectively, the aforesaid Mrs. j. Hen
ry and her unfriendly neighbor, Mrs.
Frederick Strong. The head of the lat
ter household according to reports, is
a boilermaker. Mrs. Woods temporary
occupation is that of a fencemaker. Be
sides these principals the district con-
tains one or two hopeless peacemakers
and troublemaker.
Not "spite" Fence
Mrs. Wood insists with suave smile
of assurancelthat 1t is not spite fence.
Never! She dignifies it with the more
becoming name of protection fence,
and she says she has been compelled to
build it because of-well, at this point
she lapses into a very confidential
mood and tells you all the things which
She is laying up against "the family
next door"
The fence is not as high as the New
York Singer building. 1t wouldn't even
compare favorably with the skyscrap-
ers at Fourth and Spring streets; but
it suffices to fill the bill, although it is
never to be filled with bills. No Mrs.
Wood assures the reporters it will be a
highly ornamental structure, covered in
the course of time by Towering vines
and outrageous foliage.
No circus posters, tobacco tags, ballet
girls or patent medicine panacea ads
are to be allowed to mar the charm
and dignity Of that clever device which
Mrs. Wood declares will protect her
'from the family next door,"
The protective" device is about
twenty feet high and serves its purpose
admirably. 1t protects Mrs Strong's
home from the sunlight and also shuts
&c - Al, hot
not even a faint little crack remains
through which the noises may issue.
Incidentally, of course, the Wood cot
tage is also considerably darkened, and
neighbors fore and aft are sticking
their heads out of doors and windows
holding clothesline consultations sub
rosa protests and general indignation
meetings.
Everywhere there is pail of anxiety.
A sort OF fear, as if something were
going to drop, pervades the neghbor-
hood. People go to and fro with
expectant, furtive faces and uneasy
steps. All eyes are turned toward the
scene of the Stronghold controversy.
1t is the cynosure of passing pedes-
trians.
CircuIates Petition
One enterprising neighbor has had
the courage to venture out promiscu-
ously through the field of action. Her
name is Miss j. Riley. She became
somewhat rolled at the appearance of
the protective fence and circulated
petition imploring the interference of
authorities. But the authorities are
not to be dragged into any miXup of
that nature. They have promptly as
sured the courageous Miss Riley that
there is no balm in Gilead to anchor
ate their sufferings. The fence is built
just inside the Wood property line and
cannot be demolished even by the
Strong arm of the law-according to the
police.
Miss Riley lives two doors from Mrs.
Wood and thinks the fence is an awful
ly naughty affair, to say the least. She
insists it ought to be razed, but the
problem is beyond the jurisdiction of a
mere policeman.
Meanwhile, in the face of petitions
: q nd neighbors' protests, Mrs. Wood sits
complacently in the shade of her own
vine and fig tree and observes the
workmen add the finishing touches to
her fence. A smile enwreaths her face
and her eyes shine as she observes how
effectually it shuts off her neighbor's
domicile.
Yesterday the police went to the vari-
Gus houses in the vicinity and warned
the neighbors not to interfere with the
fence.
The removal of the offensive object
was clamorously demanded, but when
it was seen that the police could not do
it and that Mrs. Wood would not,
every one asked who would; and Mrs.
Wood replied that mo one would-at
least not Wood"
Meanwhile sentiment is waxing
Strong, and the fence clocks towering
~ down with defiant mein and somber
frown"
Mrs. Wood alleges that the Strongs
have repeatedly annoyed her. There is
a building restriction on the Bartol
street properties which caused the
trouble. Mrs Wood says she had
hard work for some time to induce
the Strongs to build their house on
the front of the lot instead of on the
back. The Strongs, however. remained
in the small but neat little cottage on
the rear and built better home in
front. which they rent and which Mrs.
Wood didn't fancy because it was built
too close to the property line Rela-
tions grew strained, and last Christ
mas Mrs. Wood had Strong arrested on
a charge of disturbing the peace. She
alleged that he had used violent Ian
guage. The case was set for trial be-
fore Justice Chambers and Assistant
Prosecutor Guy Eddy says he will ask
A hA