Denver labor bulletin., 1918-08-31

The bright lights of London are only
a recollection today. Since air raids
began, the bright lights have been ex-
| tinguished for protective and other
reasons. The theaters are emptied by
| ten or quarter past ten and so are
all other places of amusement. Elec-
trio lights carefully hooded and light
proof above shed a rather sickly light,
and, to use an Americanism, all of
the streets at night look as tho there
was nothing doing, Formerly one
of the brightest of the bright spots
was Picadilly and Picadilly Circus
near the center of the theater dis
trict and having in its boundaries some
of the most famous restaurants, where
Bohemianism, music and bright lights
enticed those who desired to gaze upon
fashion, listen to the music, and eat
| high priced foods in gilded dining
| rooms.
One evening we had desire to see
what Picadilly looked like during war
time and witness the operation of the
early closing law. 1t was a beautiful
starlight night and the walking to
Picadilly was enjoyable, for the SOL
diers and their sweethearts were in
evidence everywhere, while the busses
were so crowded that it was impossi-
BILE to secure seat. Altho there were
evidences of grim war at every hand,
these did not serve to prevent those
who were out that evening from en-
joying themselves. Lively conversa-
tions and laughter were heard on
every hand.
We reached Picadilly Circus as the
crowds were emerging from the thea
ters and restaurants, and for a few
moments watched the passersby, striv-
ing to. discover from the expression of
their faces and the manner of their
conversation just what effect the war
had upon them. From all outward in
dications they were the same good
natured, self-satisfed people whom we
had encountered in years gone by.
The young people carried on lively
conversations, officers and soldiers
passed by without any apparent evil
dence of the serious work they had
done or the dangerous enterprise which
lay ahead of them. Except for the
darkness of the streets and the many
men in uniform, there was nothing
which would impress the stranger
with the fact that a nation was at
war and that England's capital was
subject to the fatal air raids which
had SO frequently passed over its
The larger portion of the crowd had
passed out of vision and there was
more room to walk along the side
walks, when overhead an explosion oc-
CURED, followed Immediately by bright
colored balls far above, like the show
er from some giant skyrocket or Ro-
man candle. Almost before there was
time to ask the question, whats hap
pened?" the policemen began to blow
their whistles, and we knew from in
formation previously received that
these were the warning signals of an
air raid, which are given some twenty
minutes before the raiders reach Lon
don.
The center of London is filled with
bomb-proof shelters, these being To-
Gated in the basement of buildings,
and every station of the underground
railways, or tubes, as they are called,
is also haven of refuge. 1t was our
first opportunity of watching the eff
feet of an air raid upon London, and
instead of seeking shelter ourselves
we made the center of the circus an
observation post and watched the
crowds as they walked or ran towards
the bomb proofs. Those who have at
tended picnics, or have stood in some
large public square when shower be-
messed exactly what occurs when the
warnings of an approaching air raid
are sounded. Everybody runs for shell
ter, there is some confusion, some
laughter, and considerable hurrying,
but there are no evidences of fear
and it is all good natured. And SO it
was with the Londoners we were
watching; there were no indications
of unusual excitement or any fear,
there was considerable good-natured
shouting, some laughter and one or
two young ladies evidently became
slightly hysterical, but there was moth
ing indicating panicky condition.
After the crowds of the street had
secured shelter, some of the buildings
began to disgorge their tenants, and
these apparently carried none of their
possessions with them; they followed
those who had already sought shelter
in the havens of refuge. A few
busses still remained upon the street,
and las they were moving more rap
idly than usual, we watched them to
see whether they had some bomb proof
structures of their own to enter.
Whether they had or not, we never
discovered, for they passed down the
street out of our sight. A few auto
mobiles passed by going at rather
lively rate, but no policemen seemed
to trouble themselves with the speed
ordinances at that time.
Our hotel was some mile and half
away and we thought that we would
go down the Haymarket, pass thru
st. James park, turn by Buckingham