Evening star., 1943-11-08

what were going to miss are the
good old nights!
For New York in the dimout has
been magic city. The streets were
gloomy and mysterious. All we
needed were a few wisps of fog to
turn it into Wuthering Heights. The
men who loomed out of the dark
ness were tall and handsome In a
sinister way. They wore cloaks and
carried daggers and their teeth
flashed like the front of Childs
Restaurant in the good old days. All
the women were beautiful, exotic,
mysterious. They murmured softly
in unknown Languages. Now and
then scream would be heard. Just
another pedestrian. What did it
matter? There were so many and
life was so beautiful.
Nice Hunting.
AS motorist in dimmed-out New
York, driving across town was a
delicious adventure You could
select your victim and stalk him in
the darkness, block after block. He
knew something was following him
but he couldn't tell what. He would
twist and dodge but you kept on
his heels. He would turn corners
sharply, run down side streets-Ah!
That was the part you enjoyed the
most. In the gloom you could see
him, but he couldn't see you.
Finally, believing he was safe, he
would duck out into the open. For
one glorious moment he stood,
breathing heavily against the sky.
Then-only then, did you step on
the gas. Wham! You had him. A
fellow motorist would honk his con-
gratulations. Nice hunting, old
boy!" he would call out cheerfullv,
and you would modestly bow your
acknowledgements.
All that is over now. The Jay
walker is safe again-to breed and
multiply and fill the streets. Given
another couple Of months OF dim
outs and think we motorists would
have had them under control. But
now the traffic lights are on full
and I'm afraid it's too late - too
late .. A great pity. 1t was
all going so nicely.
The store windows are blazing
again, too. And the women have
stopped sweeping mysteriously
through the perfumed gloom. In
stead, you see them transfixed.
paralyzed, staring hypnotically. Only
a few nights ago they, were Mataa
Harris, wicked adventuresses, dark
ladies of the sonnet. Tonight they
are only window shoppers-suburban
wives, convention widows and weary
little welders on the loose.
Priorities on Romance.
Everyday life in a big city is dull
going, God wot, but the evening
dimout held promise of adventure,
When you went out for stroll you
were bound to run into somebody
but who was It? If you were care
full not to bring him or her near a
light, the suspense could be nursed
along like radio serial.
In the protective darkness ro-
mances grew like mushrooms. When
the marriage license bureau opened
in the morning. the lines extended
down the hall, out the door, over to
the river and off the dock. Gold
rings and diapers were given ton
prloritieS and there was some talk
about rationing babies.
Now that the dimout is lifted. this
won't be necessary. The license
bureau will close. the gold rings will
60 into teeth and people who might
have learned in the dark to cling
together for protection and warmth
will cross the street and buy a paper
to take home for company instead.
What complicated world we live
in! What a complex civilization!
The lights go up and love dims
down-the lights dim down and love
lights up! You'd think the world
was a bloomin' juke box!
Distributed by