Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-05-04
LONDON CURFEW
PRODUCES GLOOM
Nowhere to Go But Bed.
Nothing Else to Do
After 1890

1
| London.-London olways took
its pleasures sadly. but now Il takes
them early and has pleanty of time
before rising to consider what 1t mas
seen and done. Curfew came TO the
British capital last week. and with
I arrived a reform in the night lie
of the city that surpassed in It's
scope all the previous changes made
necessary by war conditions. especl-
ally the raids by German aviators.
One had become quite accustomed
to the practical disappearance OF all
people and traffic from the darkened
streets after midnight but on Mon
day night the faithful buses ceased
to roll; the taxi drivers, who are be-
coming more impossible every day
| by reason of their refusal after
certain hour to take a passenger en-
| cept in the direction where their We
hicles are garaged for the night also
Disappeared; the few hotels and res
taurants which formerly served as
late as 1890 had shooed their
guests out at $3.50 or thereabouts,
for after that hour it is now prohib-
tied to serve hot meals; the theatres
had discharged their audiences
promptly at 10:S0, and all these
thousands of people had swarmed
the streets for a. few moments, de-
scended through the entrances of
the Underground the Metropolitan
and the tubes and dispersed to their
homes, leaving the centre of the
city as a bobby" standing in Pic
cadily Circus said, quoting reminis-
Gently, ITO darkness and to me-"
Probabl ythe reform that was
most felt by the majority of peC-Ole
was the abolition supper. This mid
night meal has always been dear to
Londoners heart. In pre-war days
it was most frequently the connect
ing link between the theatre party
and the going -on-party." An ev-
ening's amusement generally began
with the dinner, which was never a
hurried function. then trailed along
to the theatre. where at least the
last act and sometimes the second
act was seen, and then came supper,
a lively hour and half or two
hours. to be followed by, We'll, it's
time to be going on now to Jacks or
Mollys, as the case might be, for
they're having top hole dance at
their fiat tonight
/ This custom disappeared with the
advent of curfew. for it is difficult to
keep ones spirits up for a nights
entertainment without the aid of
"afeS and restaurants, which now
lose at $50, and no self-respecting
right party could begin before l A.
NJ. Resides what spirits could sur
viVe the depressing effects of a pc
triod of semi-darkness. for one of the
new regulations provides that all
lights shall be eXtinguished after 10
o'clock in all places where food or
drink Is served. Therefore it is no
longer possible to linger at your ta-
ole after you have finished your din
ner.
on Monday night the restaurants
and the big hotels that had never
had such an experience before were
dark. as were the corridors and lob
bies in which guests sat often until
long after midnight slipping coffee.
At the Savoy, which has been one
Of the favorite supping resorts for
years, everything was shut-restau-
rant, cafe, provision bar and smok-
ing room. A few people sat around
in the gloomy reception lobby, but
soon went off to bed. Guests who
had been to the theatres, some of
whom had not realized the changed
conditions, had quite a shock when
they arrive dat the hotel to find the
atmosphere of gloom that prevail
ed.
So effective have the new regula-
uonS been in sending people home
earlier that the mauagements of the
underground systems are already
considering the reduction in the |
number of trains run after IL
o clock. This is one of the reforms |
hoped to be made possible. as the |
saving in light and power would be |
an important item in the economy |
of fuel supply, to which the early !
closing of theatres and all places of |
and amusement will al |
so contribute.
There is one oasis in this desert |
of respectability and repose to
which the registering spirit may re-
sor+ even as late as midnight. This
is to be found in the dreary, de-
pressing refreshment bars at rail-
way stations. Here it will be possi-
Bile to procure cups of tea and dry
ginger ale. Soggy cakes and heavy
cold sausage sandwiches may also |
be procured. Here the gay dogs /
may keep up their revels until the
last taxi disappears at the stroke of
12.
But where are the oysters and the
wine of Vesteryear 2