The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1916-10-15
WILL
NOT ABANDON
RA|D|NC SEAS
LONDON. DARK NIGHTS WILL
GROW DINNER. SUBURBS TO
ABANDON THE STREET LIGHT
ING ALTOGETHER.


means convinced the authorities that
Germany will abandon them in the
near future. on the contrary London
is still preparing for the long, dark
nights growing DINNER and DINNER,
while some Of the suburbs, which
recently have caught most of the fall
ing bombs, have abandoned street
lighting altogether
In lieu OF lights the authorities have
adopted the policy of painting all
street obstructions white. This dp-
plies to the safety isles In the city
streets, letter boxes, street bins, fire
alarms, ambulance nosts etc. In some
sections traffic is guided in the Clark
by white lines painted along the
Curbs
When the lighting restrictions
first went into effect there Were
hundreds Of street accidents, but
these have gradually decreased until
the number is no longer alarming.
Streets of the west end-Piccadilly,
the Strand, Trafalgar Square-all are
crowded nightly with promenaders
and theatre crowds. People jostle
along on the darkened sidewalks in
the best of good humor. There is
seldom any disorder and the petty
criminals of the past either have
been transformed into first class
fighting men or effectually put
away" OF course a Tommy will some
times take advantage of the dark to
kiss his sweetheart, and generally all
the soldiers have their arms securely
about their best girls waist as they
stroll along the footways. The Bish-
op of London has denounced this pro
miscuous public love-making as all
wrong. but the Tommies don't appear
TO have read the Bishops sermon and
no one else has the heart to stop
them.
In that section OF London known
as the city-the home of finance and
wholesale trade--the nights are par
ticularly dark and mystic. Along to-
ward midnight about the only moy-
ing object visible is a policeman. In
their night-blue uniforms and black
helmets the Boobies appear almost
sepulchral. They lurk in dark alcoves
as a rule and the pedestrian often
is startled to find himself face to face
with silent guardian of the law
whose presence was not the least
suspected
The further dimming of the city
lights since autumn began has un-
douhtedly baffled the Zeppelin pilots.
on the raid of September %. they
we're successful, however in following
certain thoroughfares in the outlying
districts upon which trolley cars were
running. These cars were darkened,
of course, but the suggestion has been
made that the trolley flashes possibly
served as guide
Raid nights" always are followed
bv many humorous stories A good
oldfashioned American poker game
was in progress in a West End club
during the last raid one of the club
attendants came into the card room
and announced that the "Zepps nave
come. gentlemen"
Il thought l heard the guns going
five minutes or SO ago" remarked one
of the English players.
"Why didn't YOU say something
about it," asked a somewhat excited
American.
well. why should l." retorted the
Englishman, "Tve been winning right
along, haven't To-
The story is recalled Of one Of the
earlier raids when a little messenger
boy on bicycle was pedellng to-
ward the cable office when he look
ed around and saw a big Zeppelin
apparently right behind him. The
plucky little fellow put on more
steam, hut when he looked around
the second time the Zepp was still
there and II anything was gaining on
him. He spurted forward then with
all the might in his slim little legs,
but the hum of the ariships' motors
grew louder and louder in his ears.
Then a great thought struck the
boy. He hoped off his wheel, blew
out the light. and at the very first
turning darted down a darkened side
street To his great relief the Zepp
gave up its terrifying personal pur-
suit and kept straight TO its course
over the main highway. Triumphant
Ily the messenger delivered his dis
patches and his hairraising story Of
escape at the cable station.
As 10 terrifying Londoners. It can
truthully be said that the most COM
mon comment heard upon the streets