The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-11
THE MODERN DICK TURPIN.
.oa,, yLa ~ TL.'I.,,.

FROM ht6 ~. L. tribune.
Gentlemen of the road have become demo-
ralized, we fear, since they betook themselves
to city practice. We would suggest to the
consideration of our too practical burglars the
old stories of the chivalry of Dick Turpin and
Gentleman Jack. After those gallant outlaws
had robbed travelling chariot they always
restored to the ladies their diamond rings,
asking sometimes the privilege of kissing the
fair hand as they put them on. Very different
is the practice of our modern knights of the
itching palm. After the late robbery of the
Beneficial Savings Fund in Philadelphia, in
their subsequent amcable traffic with the
directors and police for the stolen goods, they
not only demanded to retain all the cash
taken, but twenty per cent. on the bonds and
the diamonds We do not scruple to say
boldly that the diamonds should have been
returned. The rest was legitimate matter of
trade, but-a woman's gear! 1t was a little
matter, but an opportunity for the gentle
guild of burglars to show their nobility of
soul, which unfortunately they neglected.
Their admission into society of late years,
too, renders it doubly incumbent on them to
act in these matters with a fine sense of deli
cacy and honor. Dick Turpin was liable to
find pistol presented to his head by the un-
appreciative subjects of his ight-fngered
skill, and if caught was sure of Newgate and
the rope. Our modern burglar, having gained
his spoil, calmly awaits a summons to
friendly conference with the late owners of
the bonds, detectives being present merely as
mutual friends. The conference in the late
Philadelphia case, we understand, was of the
pleasantest description-terrapin and snug
glass of wine not being wanting. The parties
separated on the most amicable terms. In
deed, so impressed were our grave Quaker
brethren with their new acquaintances, that
meddlesome editor, who gave to the transac-
ton the name of compounding felony, and
censured the Grand Jury for not taking cog
nizance of it. was threatened with indictment
for contempt of court. The same jury, to
show their unimpeachable zeal, have just
made an expedition into the Philadelphia Five
Points to ferret out the keepers of ten cent
lodging houses
The BUSH, ess is more profitable as we'll as
honorable thAu in Turpin's times. Twenty
per cent. for Ilree weeks custody of another
mans bonds ia a satisfactory return for q
SLIGHT inyestmene of trouble. No money is
required. and. as the police eagerly assure
them, no danger is IN CURED. SO satisfactory
was it to the gentlel leu concerned IN the
venture in Philadelphia. that they have under
taken several others sno with equally plea
SAINT results. The latest, :, We believe, Is tnat
of the Boylston Bank, in ooSton' ana the
directors have already publish, ea their ihYita-
tAon W conference, Wnefe 1--WE N It.
will be offered, and we suppose terrapin and
tea, more aesthetic drink than " me sntlng
the occasion, the ancient craft of burglary
now having been recogni2ed as one Oh the
liberal professions, uI|
Still, we insist if there be any jewe Try IN
the question, let it be returned. Re9at d TO
these little delicacies marks the true gen, lie
man. Our friends of the drill and iimn. "
may tind their intercourse with society NOR,
profitable and pleasant without attention to
such trites, but their characters will lack
certain desirable chivalric glow. 1t hangs
about the memory Of Turpin, although, owing
to the dull age in which he lived, he was not
paid for robbery, and the man who traded
with him would have been branded as com
FOUNDER of felony. The people loved him.
though the lnw--with the old-fashioned pre-
judice against theft--persisted in giving
him a rope instead of twenty per cent.
THE RIGHTS OF CHILDREN.
From the N T. Nation
Eighteen years ago Herbert Spencer wrote
a chapter on the rights of children. In this
chapter, which was considered wild and revo
lutionary by some, in fact, r09Uctio ad a6-
suTduna of his entire social philosophy, the
writer maintained that the law, 'Eyery man
has freedom to do all that he Wills provided
he infringes not the equal freedom of any
other man. applied as much TO tho young as
T.