Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-26
ZEPPELIN RAIDS
MAKE NIGHTMARE
HIDEOUSLY REAL
Lowered Lights, Warn of
Attack, Then Comes Whir-
ring of Machinery
SOLID HOUSES ROCK
Dyspeptic Dreams of Childhood
Outdone in Terror by Work
of Bombs and Petrol
BY ELLEN ADA1R


SOMEWHETtES-lN-SC ApTu
IA have Just been "Zeppelined."
THE ijfrase sounds casual-but It's mean
ing. let me assure the gentle reader covers
thi whole gamut of unpleasant sensations.
Unpleasant Is weak and ineffective
term. EMBARRASSING Is nearer the mark.
To be aroused by midnight by con-
cussion which hurls the windowglass in
graceful atoms over your pillow is
scarcely reassurlng Nor is the dreaded
"CIank CIank I" of throbblng propelers
and the thunder of machinery just over
head. know of nothing so calculated to
send an icy chill down the spine ana a
strange wobbliness TO the knees,
"oh, another Zeppelin raid in Britain =
says the American reader, scanning his
morning paper, they've actually got TO
Scotland now ~
But little does the reader imagine the
feelings of those far-off people who watch
the great cigar-shaped monsters as they
hover over house and home.
It was wonderful spring evening.
and the streets of this town q must not
mention names) were filled with devout
souls going churchward. In wartime
all the Sunday services are we'll attend
ed. The Scottish parsons. many of them
lust back from the firing line. were
preaching sermons as fiery as their own
experiences How strange to see those
battle-staned khaki uniforms in the pull
pit
LOWERED LIGHTS A WARNING.
At s o'clsclS the twilight faded, and the
sky was brilliant with stars.
what n glorious night for spring
time 20 said the optlnist
what a glorious night for zeppelins "
said the pessimist.
The Sunday supper-tabes were glowing
cheerfuly, when-what was that? The
lights began to flicker and grow dulier,
duller The electric current was being
lowered cut off. Or was 1t merely nervous
imagining2 No one said 'Zeppelins J!
Yet, avoiding each others eyes, we all
knew perfectly what the warning meant.
The talk went on as cheerily as before,
till "Snapv and all the lights went out
There was no noise, no panic. WHAT'S
the use7 Sensible people don't grow
hysterical. I think most Of the townsfolk
went early to bed. 1t isn't cheerful sitting
In the dark, and waiting.
II was midnight when the first great
crash came The detonation was terrific.
The windows of my room flew into a
thousand pieces. Right overhead were
two Zeppelins, silhouetted in the starlight.
II only they would move on, on, and~ not
hang there. stationary. Then "Crash-h'h!
Crash" and the house began TO sway.
In childhood we have all had might
mares dreadful dreams of being chased
by fierce men with big guns. and when
the guns shoot. all the earth opens up as
If to swallow us. We have tried to call
out but no words would come. We have
tumbled into the chasms. and kept falling.
falling. till with start we have wakened
up. Then we have laughed at our night
mares.
but today we do not laugh. For Yep
pelins are just those very childish night
mares-come true!
Our house is square and solid made
mil m ba fIIl
of the north wind as 1t sweeps over 100
miles of Highland hills. 1t has stood firm
for 100 years But it is old, and doesn't
understand new-fangled ways and new
tangled inventions. Certainly not Yep
pelins
HOUSE ROCKS TO BASE.
Therefore, it trembled. and it's heavy
stone walls tottered. "Crash-h!" and the
roof began to rock What next2
The thunder of the machines was deafen-
ing. One couldn't hear a voice speak
above 1t. II doubled in intensity every
time a bomb dropped, exploding in the
streets or on the buildings.
A lull. In dashed a maiden lady
from next door, shaking like an aspen leaf.
and clad in one-pece garment not
usually associated with formal visits Her
hair was fixed in curling pins-but no,
she didn't care! She didn't want to die
alone, she explained encouragingly.
Adjourning to the dining room on the
hrst floor, we sat in total darkness, while
explosions rent the air. Then the sound
of quick-firing guns began. Another great
Grassland the big bay windows blew in
on top OF u.s. A blaze OF light lit up the
gardens, and the maiden lady from next
door rushed to the empty windows to see
what havoc the incendiary bomb had ac-
'complished In her prim flower beds Alas
alas sea OF liquid fire was racing round
ba Ia "A
every flower and leaving nothing but
burnt earth behind
my poor spring tulips.' was her one
cry. And like Rachel mourning for ,her
children, she refused to be comforted
Less than hundred yards away there
is a laundry-or,f TO be accurate. there
was laundry No one was sleeping
there when the huge bomb dropped blow
ing II heaYenward. Farewell, long fare
well to the family washing. It's-a poor
consolation to know that ones cherished
garments have all died a high explosive
death, and that. no more will they return,
snowy and stiff on the family basket!
Out In the street there was a strange
crowd. clad In the scantiest night attire.
their Lares and Penates grasped in their
hands. One old gentleman, retired colo
mel. whose elothing these many moons
has rivaled Solomon in all its glory, and
who sartorially speaking, is the piece de
resistance of the neighbOrhoOd. was robed
In pink paJamas and an opera hat. We
DIDN'T laugh at him We didn't feel that
life was particularly humorous at the mo-
ment- We did the wisest thing-a. quick
retreat 10 the cellars
HAIRBREADTH ESCAPES. :
When morning came, 1t was marvellous
TO find how many hairbreadth escapes had
taken place In the town. Those most
badly injured were the babies One had
been killed in its erib-shot through the
heart by a piece of bomb. In a quiet
street there was big hole in the middle
Of the road. and beside It lay little hand
Poor children
A gay little "dapper" friend OF mine had
a lively night OF it. About midnight, as
she lay sleeping, a bomb dropped through
the roof hurled her bed upside down and
pitched her across the floor She had just
sufficient presence OF mind 10 crawl be-
meath the upturned bed when a heavy oak
cupboard crashed down on top OF H. Then
the roof fell In, ana she was buried under
10 feet OF debris It took several hours 70
dig her out but she was quite unhurt.
Today the sun is shining as before. Il
Is incredible to think that last nights
nightmare was reality. The birds are
building In the elm-trees and the world is
green again. But look In the blackened
ruins Of the next-doOr garden stands the
maiden lady. She has buckled on her
gardening gloves ana is bending over what
Here once her beloved tulips. And Ia the
In