The Washington herald., 1918-01-22
.HEATLESS DAY
PUTS CROWD
IN THEATERS
Business Washington Looks
Deserted with Enforce
ment Well Observed.

Downtown Washington resembled an
empty bee hive yesterday when the
first of the Coal Administration. sshoIi-
days" closed stores and other places
Of business.
Today promises to be "funless day.
with all theaters and other places of
amusement closed in compliance with
the Garfield edict. Theatrical mag
mates succeeded in having the theaters'
"coalless day" changed from Monday
to Tuesday.
Schools Are Open.
Yesterdays inforced holiday" meant
nothing in the lives Of thousands of
school children and department work.
ers, who continued their daily routine
as usual. While the "coalless'' day
in other cities will mean the complete
cef sation of industry and a probable
high wage loss, the District popula-
ton, with its huge proportion Of gov
ernment workers. will be occasioned
less of an economic strain than other
portions of the country. 1t is esti-
mated that so per cent of the District
workers are government employees.
The shopping district was almost
as quiet as though 1t were Sunday
afternoon.
A few casual strollers were in
evidence, but for the most part, 1t
looked as though Washington folks
were spending their enforced holi-
day at home, preferring a snug seat
by the radiator to braving the icy
breezes in search of amusement.
Theaters Packed.
Moving picture houses and the
aters. which will observe "coalless
days" on Tuesdays instead of Mon
days did q capacity business, how
ever. The closing Of the depart
ment stores naturally drew to the
theaters many people who would
otherwise have spent their holiday
IN shopping. But the matinee girls
weren't able to get any candy to
eat at the show unless they were
willing to take the drug store vari-
eties.
All Of the big candy shops were
closed up.
mo caramels. no nougat, no pan
oche, no nothing" walled one miss
who just can't appreciate a show un-
less she is provided with a box of her
favorite brand OF sweets
FOOQ SlOTeS which were originally
given permission to remain open only
for half day were granted special
permission to remain open through
out the day, as It was believed that
the public were somewhat confused
by this order and considerable incon-
venience would probably result from
the enforcement OF the original order.
1t Is predicted that this order will be
frightened up next week to its original
standard. A great many small grocery
stores, however. will operate without
light or heat.
Drug stores Busy.
Drug stores, under the provisions OF
the Coal Administration order. were
only exempted for the purpose of
selling drugs. 1t was recognized.
however. that they could not be pre-
vented from doing their usual trade.
So the soda fountains and candy and
cigar counters fiourished as usual
Bowling alleys, billiard rooms and
dance halls were included In the same
order as the theaters and allowed to
remain open. 49,.
Today all places. OF amusement will
fall under the Fuel Administration
ban. The city will be under a stricter
blue law" than any ever passed by
a legislative body. Theaters, movies,
dancing establishments, bowling al
leys, penny arcades and poolrooms
will all be closed.