, 1923-08-29
Let Her Blow

Upon several occasions in the past we have
complained bitterly, demonstrated vehemently,
nay, we have walled uproariously concerning
the Natrona Power Company's raucous steam
whistle which at the hour of eight o'clock in
the evening is blown loud and long to notify the
girls and boys of immature years to gather
under the %rooftree and prepare for bed. 1t is
the curfew. A custom brought down from old
when sweet-toned bells rang at ~nightfal1 as a
signal for the young to seek the safety of home,
avoid the dangers of the u%nlighted streets and
escape contact with the reckless and brawling
element of the population abroad in the dark
ness.
A considerable sentiment was worked up for
the curfew at the time Cleopatra assembled the
belfry, gripped the bell-clapper firmly with her
lily white hands with. which said hands she
muffled the bell so that the deaf sexton could
hear no sound, and by her heroic act saved her
lover from an ignominous death. This senti
ment held out until the Natrona Power whistle
went into the curfew bushes, when it was COM
pletely destroyed in the hearts and souls of
most people within a radius of seventeen miles
of Casper.
So far as observation went this whistle cur
few was not n bowling success although it must
be admitted that the bowling was successful.
Modern children had advanced. 1t was old
stuff to invite them to go home in the shank
oil the evening. There were entirely too many
attractions to engage them and besides they
figured that they could take care of themselves.
even with automobile traffic and other dangers.
Parents apparently figured the same way, for
the children remained abroad upon the streets
until they got good and ready to go home. The
mere creating of a public disturbance and sus.
pending all business and conversation during the
blowing of the whistle did little curfewing;
because fierce as was the announcement, it was
not followed up by compulsion or execution of
the lntents and purposes of the whistle.
The public suffered in silence until one han
Ply day there was a change in the city admins
tration. A %prayerful petition was presented
and hoped for relief granted. The time of
blowing was cut from five minutes to two min.
utes. This substantial victory meant progress
to the anti whistleites.
They bidcd their time when another admins.
tration could be induced to clip another minutes
suffering from patient humanity. And when
the anti-curfew bloc should grow into a power
In the city and should finally command and
regulate, then the whistle would be abolished
and removed, painted pea green and hung in the
council chamber among the stays heads and
other relics.
Now comes Frank B. Taylor, Boy Scout
entertain and causes us to pause and ponder.
to malt the campaign against the Natrona Power
whistle and convinces us in twenty-one words
of argument that the whistle is not wholly inn
moral. That it has its good points, and serves
n useful purpose despite our antipathy and mn.
answerable argument for strangulation of its
dlscordant notes upon the peaceful evening at.
mosphere.
Frank Taylor's argument is this: "Since
the Boy Scouts began using the Natrona Power
whistle as a signal, seventy eight lost children
nave been promptly found"
How are you going to answer argument of
that sort: Can it be answered? We think not.
1t is conclusive. If we have ever in a thought.
less moment of heat, referred to that whistle in
opprobrious terms, we beg to withdraw them
and request that they be expunged from the
record. What does a deafening blast from n
whistle amount to anyway? Nothing. Put
on your ear muffs at eight o'clock in the even.
ing or any other time the whistle chooses to
roar.
Everyone Of those seventy eight youngsters
mothers is worth that much more. Here is
where we quit. Our hatred of that whistle
has been changed to affection by the brief state.
ment of Frank Taylor.
To show the sincerity OF our conversion and
regeneration We propose three cheers for the
Boy Scouts-and the Natrona Power whistle.