Evening star., 1921-09-16
FINDS AND
NOISES IN ALLEY
Paved With Boutders for
Milk Wagons to Bump Over.
In Arist0cratic c Street.

| To the Editor of The Star:
When my husband brought me from
| New York city to Washington, d. c.,
to live he bought a house on what
he termed "aristocratic old c street"
1 was told that Daniel Webster.
Henry Clay, John Marshall and other
great men Of our country had lived
in the immediate nefghborhood and
that there were three churches in our
immediate vicinity, which added to its
| respectability.
The former owner Of the house
said: you are moving into a very
fine neighborhocd," and quoted other
celebrities who had resided here
during the past
Another especial advantage which
was pointed out was the wide alley.
Well. 1 took 1t all for granted as
very true.
Coming from the upper West Side
about alleys and thought because 1t
afforded light and, air-whenever
there is any air in Washington-this
lane would be splendid, and so l was
persuaded that this house was just
the one for us.
our alley, with weird and interest
| ing detail. but can only state facts
which I know If reported in New
York city would receive immediate
attention and correction.
Our alley was paved with cobble-
/ mean boulderS-a hundred years
ago, more or less. have never gone
far into its depths. but soon learned
its Importance as a thoroughfare. At
? ami. milk wagons come rum bling
along, awakening every one from
sleep. and after that there is no rest.
Great trucks loaded with boxes and
vegetables for the market, the horses
| iron hoofs ringing and slipping over
the rocks. Wagons with rafting
chains and banging back doors come
numbering through, with more and
more noise as they approach.
Big vans and thunderous iron ash
wagons and garbage carts, with loud
voiced men driving them and rival
ing the baggage men of our railroads
! in handling trunks as they empty and
throw down the cans.
But this is not all. There are un-
usual things going on during the
! hours from dark until midnight.
Queer-looking men come skuiking
| through with heavy bags thrown
over their shoulders. who look sus-
piciously around to see if they are
, observed. Covered delivery wagons
and handsome automobiles which do
not belong there slip past our side
veranda and disappear into the alleys
mysterious shadows. Groups of men
gather there. perhaps to hold political
arguments, and occasionally there is
| to be heard noisy party of men and
women somewhere holding drunk en-
revelry-making night hideous.
One night recently 1 was startled
to see light burning on the stones
quite near the rear of our property,
while a group of men stood close by
holding conversation in low tones.
and real fear, for the first time, took
possession of my soul. ] called out,
and the light instantly disappeared.
] have written or called upon every
commission or authoritative body I
could learn of, to see if this alley
could not be closed or paved and
cleared of it's nuisances. but the evil
still'exists. In London. England; Bos-
ton. Mass. and other large cities
such alleys have been turned into
parkways or respectable residence
streets. How about beautifying Wash
I ingto and especially a once refined
and famous street at the west door
of the Capitol?
1 ask for information.
MARY REID UMSTEAD.
The TERRA del Fuegans eat soap.
finding the fat therein really nourish-