South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-01-20

As a fOrerunner OF what April
viii bring 90 Mishawaka's damp"
localities, that famous thoroughfare
long known as Smoky Row" IS
now In utter and absolute darkness
for the first time in over 30 years.
10 presents a melancholy and dis
heaTtening aspect 20 its confirmed
habitants Windows that custo-
marily throw out their inviting brill
lance are dark. and doors that or
dinariIy set free their inviting odOrs
are closed. by order Of the fuel ad-
ministrator whose Jurisdiction re-
spects neither persons nor cOndi-
tions.
Already the ruling has brought
about considerable discomfort. not
TO say suffering Confirmed imbibers
and the discreet tipplers have been
alike COMPOUNDED by the awkward
within OF Administrator Hardy. The
looks Of hurt bewilderment which
appear on the faces of unsuspecting
custom ers are hardly less pathetic
han ludicrous.
a day or two ago one such indi-
vidual stopped at the front entrance
Of one of our leading buffets, and
without hesitancy laid his hand
upon the door 10 open il. It re-
sisted him. He tried once more.
Again he failed TO gain admittance.
His ewes widened in establishment.
lie appeared annoyed Then he tried
again. with similar result He
IOOlxed pained.
After hesitating a moment or so.
ne applied 10 the rear entrance, that
hitherto unfailing means of ingress.
A little later he came wildly back,
with the CLINT of insanity in his as
founded eyes. lie looked TO the
right and then 10 the left OF him,
and witnesses declare they have
never heard such intensely vivid
and profoundly earnest remarks.
lie was later seen i'm distracted
search Of a calendar.
Serious Aspects rs Well.
There are serious aspects, how
ever, as we'll as humorous ones to
he order which has brought an
abrupt close 90 most OF Mishawaka's
business activity. Saturday was eX-
traordinarily duh, a condition not
i'm keeping with the day Streets
presented a really marked contrast
10 the ordinary stir and movement
of the last week day. Despite the
fact that no stores will be open on
Monday. merchants report compar-
7tively little business.
At the coal yards Saturday,
steady stream of people applied for
the precious fuel Since the ruling
which prohibits the delivery Of any
coal farther than the curb, and re-
stricts the wagon delivery consider
ably. patrons have appeared with
every form OF conveyance. from the
original broad back Of the burden
bearer. TO the latest model Of me-
chanic invention. Little children
with sleds, old men with sacks and
women with baby carriages kept up
a continual procession from early
i'm the morning until after nightfall.
Fortunately for the movie fans.
the ban originally placed on this
form OF amusement will be lifted
after Monday. II has added not in
considerably 10 the general air of
lethargy and somnOlence which has
Thursday night. People accustomed
To this form of entertainment have
been almost as distracted as those
whose tastes run TO liquid
LOungers Are at Loss.
The closing of cigar stores bill
lizard halls and bowling alleys has
thrust upon the innocent and help
less owners of certain public utili-
ties who escape the order. the fire.
quenters Of these places, in search
OF lounging quarters. OF the un-
pleasant consequences of Mr.. Har-
dy's move. this is not one to be
sneered AZ.
Another disagreeable result Of the
ruling is the fact that il has de-
veloped the knocking" prOpensi-
ties Of a great many Of NIishawakas
otherwise estimable citizens. II is
true that most of the complaints
come from personages whose politi-
cal opinions are of a color differ
ing from those of that great big