Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1915-10-30
LONDON THE DARKEST
CITY IN THE WORLD
Is Black As When ''the Light
Of Other Days" the Candle
Was In Use
By WILBUR s. FORREST

(umted Press staff Correspondent
London, Oct. 6; (By mail)
the darkest city in the world! Such
is this ancient towns new title. Zeppe.
lin raids have indeed made it the
world s city of darkness.
Imagine, if possible, London one
hundred years ago, before Benjamin
franklin started to experiment with
key on kite string; before Edison
began to see the Possibilities of small
wires in a vacuum glass globe; before
great power plants were built.
Imagine, Broadway without CLEAN
of light State street, Chicago, without
an electric sign; Maraket street, San
Francisco, without its "White Way"
and, even then, it would be hard to
imagine how dark the Zeppelins have
made London.
The great Strand, whose hotels and
electric signs once sent light far into
the upper void, is as black as the Ace
of Spades. Picadilly, Regent street,
Westminster and all the rest are equal
ly black. Add to this an early autumn
London fog and the approaching
"black fogs" of winter and London
will be found as dark as an American
cross roads village at midnight
Even the silent Thames, which the
Germans claimed guided them to Lon.
don on the last memorable raid, is
doomed to blackness. Lights that for
generations have reflected their yellow.
ness on the swift waters have ceased
to shine. Moonlight alone can make
the Thames reflect itself visibly at
great attitudes and Zeppelins ure not
moonlight birds. Darkest nights are
Zeppelin nights and in them London
needs must resemble the black nothing
ness of open country.
Residential districts, suburbs and all
must curtain their windows and shade
their lights, Police constantly watch
for unshaded windows and, If vio
lation is found, a sharp warning is ad
ministered. A second offense means
a stiff fine. Shopkeepers report recOrC
sales of candles.
From Picadilly Circus, where tn,
figure of Mercury on the fountain, cal
now, after dark, be scarcely seen fift,
feet away, to Bond street, noted tn,
world over for fashionable shops
night is supreme. The shops Of fash
ion pull down their curtains shortly
after s, put their diamonds and Othe
precious wares into Zeppelin proof safe
and wait for daylight. What Bon,
street is doing is vogue. In fifty shop
ping districts within the metropolitan
area shopkeeuers have recided to clos,
at 8 three nights a week, at 9 on Fri
days and 10 on Saturdays. After
customers are forced to shop in semi
darkness.
On the streets motor omnibuses, taxi
cabs and vehicles Of all varieties limi
speed and activity after nightfall. Th
"buses" crawl through the haze will
darkened interiors and showing fain
blue and red lights fore and aft. Pas
sengers Of these "craft" are Just be
ginning to know their approach by tn
sound Of their motors.
Taxicabs drone along at slow speed
the drivers always on a nervous strait
for fear Of humping some gropini
pedestrian. The situation will be som
what aided, il a suggestion TO white
wash all OF the city's 10000 miles o
curbstones Is carried out.
London's already heavy street acci
dent casualty list is expected to be al
most doubled by the new situation
The authorities are understood. how
ever, to have taken this into considero
tion, believing it better 10 have peopl
killed singly by accident than in group