Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1872-10-07
THE YOUNG HOODLUM.

If we are to believe the ministers and
newspapers of San Francisco, the young
men of that city are unmistakably and
undeniably '.going to the bad" Moth
ing seems too rascally, or, not to put too
fine a point upon it, too criminal, for the
average young man of Frisco to indulge
in. The vices that in staid New Eng
land would taboo man from decent So
ciety, would in San Francisco hardly
disqualify him from church membership
that is, always taking the aforesaid
authorities as a standard of Judgment.
The grand jury of that city have just
presented report of their labors during
the past two months, in the course of
which they allude to the rapid spread of
crime and recklessness among the boys
and young men of the community, and
express serious misgivings for.the future.
To such an extent has the evil grown
that they believe it to be the duty of the
authorities to take stringent and imme-
diate measures for its abatement. A re-
turn to the old system of apprenticeship,
which in this country is nearly extinct,
is strongly recommended, which, giving
the employer of young men almost pa
rental rights, would be restraining
power over the habits of those who have
no natural or legal guardians, as well as
those who are beyond the reach of paren-
tai advice and restraint. Undoubtedly
one of the chief causes of this depravity
among the San franciscan youth. and
one which influences the young mind
more than any other, is the absolute free
dom which the boys of that city seem to
possess to roam about the city at all
hours during the evening and night, Wis
iting places of amusement and haunts
of vice. From the editorials and police
records in our exchanges from that city,
we learn that boys of all ages-from
eight and ten years old even-visit as
late as midnight underground cellars,
concert saloons, free-and-easys, dance
cellars and other places where drinking,
debauchery and indecent amusements
are carried on. With this liberty, what
better or different results could be ex-
pected I? The seeds of vice are easily
planted, and they never fail of producing
their legitimate harvest A single
months license in city like San Fran
cisco or New York given to an impressi-
BILE boy may be the means of wrecking
his whole life.
We are glad to know that the people
of the Golden City are no longer willing
to rest under the imputation of being the
worst community OF the continent. Let
them heed the warnings of the press and
pulpit. and do their best to assist in car
rying out the suggestions of the grand
jury, who close their report as follows !:
1--WE would respectfully ask the board
of supervisors for the passage of an or
dinance making it misdemeanor for
boys or girls to be present or engaged in
such places Saloons, dance halls, etc.,)
and at such entertainments also max
ing the proprietor liable for employing
them or permitting them to be present
also authorizing and directing the po-
lice to arrest all boys and girls of the
above ages who may be present by par
ticipating in such entertainment. While
we thus invoke the aid of penalties and
of the laws for the suppression of this
so-called hoodlum element and its ca
reer of crime, we respectfully urge pa
rents to put forth the firm hand of re
straint, which is a solemn duty, ane
compel their children to employ thei
time in pursuits of industry and educa
tion." This is the exact remedy. Nov
let us see if the San Franciscoans vii
: apply it.-Globe.