The pioneer-review. [volume] (Philip, Haakon County, S.D.) 1920-current, 1922-06-22
SURELY MEAN MAN
Young Woman Had Her Idea OF
Staten Islander.
All Right to Employ Flashlights in a
Proper Manner, but One Should
Use Discretion.

"Fireflies In winter 7" calculated the
visitor to Staten island. He was gaZ-
ing on little lake set in the midst
of stretch of Woodland. 1t was a
dark night, unlighted by moon, and
yet having that clarity of atmosphere
that makes even a. dark night outdoors
so much less dark than a dark room.
Above the figures which he could
dimly descry moving about on the
frozen surface Of the pond numbers
Of firefies seemed to fit. The lights
followed the gyrations OF the skaters,
1t appeared, coming together at times
In groups Of golden points picked out
against the dul hIeas.
at isn't fireflies, it's flashlights, re-
piled the Staten island householder
who had led group of Manhattan
visitors through the woods to the
pond. "Here on Staten island, where
we're close to nature, we don't patron
lie Kinks, but seek out open-air lakes
and ponds. Flashlights have come to
be part of our necessary skating
equipment because we have to pro
vide our own lights on secluded ponds
far from municipality lighted areas.
I'VE drive our cars down to the
edge of the lake and then leave the
headlights on while we skate, but
even this Eliminates only a small part
Of the lake. For putting on skates.
Identifying friends and finding our
way over the occasional rough
stretches of ice we have to depend on
our flashlights"
A look of distress mantled the face
If the Staten islander momentarily.
"By George. | had a narrow escape
the other night he confided. IF it
hadn't been for my|flashllght I'd have
been a goner."
"Holdup man w,questioned the Man
hattanite.
"Holdup!' scornfully replied the
| Staten islander. "Whv, man that's
nothing to what l got away from /
almost said something sweet to the
wrong woman! She's one Of the mar
rying kind, too, by George. Just
thought to turn on my fiashlight in
time. She'd have had me. sure. 1t
| was a darn close shave
The Staten islander, who IS CON
| firmed old bachelor, shivered per
ceptibly, although the night was not
| at all cold.
| AS they moved over the ice the
Staten islander from time to time
| flashed his light on the wooded edge
| Of the bank; especially. 1t seemed to
| the Manhattanite, aid he seek out Sc
| cluded little corners and indentations
| of the shore line with its revealing
| torch.
More than once the fash Illuminated
couple Of figures clasped in a warm
embrace, and on these occasions the
Staten islander chuckled delightedly.
But apparently the diversion of eX-
| posing loves young dream was not
equally popular with all the patrons
of the lake. AS they preached the
shore after a couple of srounds they
encountered young couple loiterins
on the bank. 1t seemed to the Man
hattanite that the young woman
raised her voice unnecessarily as they
passed.
II used to think" she said, in clear
far-reaching accents. that the mean
est man on earth was the one who
worked the flashlights on the Albany
| night line
"But now l know there are even
meaner people in the world-especial
ly one old dodo who noses around this
| Iaka with 1aShIipht"