The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1919-07-11
HOT NIGHT SLEEP
TOpekans Shore in Front Yards
and Other Places.
Midnight Trip Thru Residence
District Reveals Sights.
HEAT MAKES MANY RESTLESS
Blinds Left Up To Let in Any
Stray Breeze.
Sleeping Porch Is Most Popu-
lar Place in House.
HEAT MAKES MANY RESTLESS


single pedestrian went slowly home
after the sitting heat of one of the
hottest days of the year.
He passed slowly along a place in
| deep murky blackness, shrouded with
heavy, overhanging trees. The street
lamps were far away. Little light
penetrated the place. A strange,
weird rumble came to his ears
Cold shivers went scampering up
| his back altho perspiration was oozing
| from ever pore in his body. The
muscles on his neck quivered and be-
| came taut. He concentrated all his
| faculties in an effort to classify the
strange sound.
1t came again Closer this time.
| Increasing in volume to a roar of con-
| siderable magnitude, it died out slow
ly. deliberately. in wheeling. high
unknown was solved
1t was a snore. A resonant, re-
| sounding full-grown, herman snore,
with all variations and ending up in
an enhancing jazzy whistle, starting
high on the scale and dying out family
an octave or SO lower. followed by a
throaty gulp and grunt.
Out in the Yard, Too.
A relieved smile spread family over
the face of the walker. He searched
the shadows with eyes becoming ac-
| customed to the gloom. He finally
found it. A white mound lay sprawled
on mattress in the yard. Legs wide
outstretched. The climax of the
| mound was a supermound-a nice
full round stomach, bare to the. cool
ing caress of the wind. Arms wide
! outstretched, fingers gently twitching
! occasionally. His mouth, wide open
and cavernous in aspect was a verita-
Bile cave of the winds for bugs that
prowl about by night
! HS0nadS right from he
trian, flop. you big stiff! You're sail
| ing on your back" And down the
| street he went.
Rounding a corner he proceeded
down the street. Shores of various
proficiency greeted his ears from
many porches. Low, full and loud
they came from front porch sleepers
attempting to escape the heat. High
and faint they came from sleeping
porches higher in the air. Voices of
Fpersons discussing the best way to ar
range things came from yards, back
yards, side yards and front yards
There were tents. Some of preten-
tious size. Others merely shelter from
possible Indictment weather.
He proceeded YEARLY down a mar
row street. Faint voices came from
across the street A mans talking in
low tones. Then low, happy laughter
in q feminine tone.
Woman -Combing Hair.
|
on the pedestrian. across the street.
He turned his head toward the houses
| to escape the glare of the light in his
face. ON the porch directly in front
| of him stood Eve combing her hair.
With a little scream she dashed for
| the door clad only in the flying hair.
| The front door slammed shut and the
vision was gone. A merry laugh and
the light across the street flashed out
again. He pinched himself. to see
/ I, l.,
He was awake all right. Then he
| didn't know whether to run-or, pray
for the light.
| Windows and doors in most houses
stood open to admit what breeze there
was. Owing to the heat it seemed
that many persons were still up, or
awake. Few lights were lit, however.
Apparently the process of making
ready for bed took place in the en-
veloping darkness to obviate even the
small amount of heat coming from
| the burning electric lights. Voices
were heard, coming family from many
| houses. A large number must have
been unable to go to sleep. The heat
| was too great.
| Occasionally a home was passed in
which dwelt some reckless one. One
who cared less about being seen than
| about pulling down the curtain and
| keeping out what little breeze there
was: Most of these were men, Altho
|
utter disregard for furnishing treat
| to late home-goers.
Mighty Hot it Was.
1t was a mighty hot night. Others
will follow. The sleeping methods Of
| entire Topeka have suffered a disrup-
ton from the accustomed order that
will probably continue until cooler
weathers comes again.
Every available cool spot is utili-
! ized. Porches. tents, the open air in
| back yards, flat places on the roofs
] of houses and other buildings, porch
| swings, some of them. make mighty
| fine beds. Ex- gobs swing a hammock
| between two trees and go happily to
sleep in the swaying breeze dream
| ing they are back in ship on the roll
! ing waves. Some soldiers try this
! too. They are more satisfied, how
| ever, right on the bosom of Mother
| Nature.
A night wanderer may see many
strange sights and hear a lot. Of funny