Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-10-15
HOW 20 rra,ent RurgInrIea.

prevention of burglaries, subject iu
which honest citizens OF Memphis are
supposed to be as deeply interested as
those of other cities. There can be no
doubt that very gross negligence is
habitually displayed by many house
holders, who seem to imagine that no
other protection is needed for their
houses than that affordedsby the police.
When a robbery takes place, aud the
burglar, with half dozen hours start,
gets clear of, it is the police who are
blamed, not the householder whose care
lessness is a standing invitation to
thieves. Doubtless in many cases, the
householder may think he is not in fault.
lie gives certain orders to his servants;
they are negligent; the area window is
left unbarred; the thieves enter, aud his
valusbles disappear as if they we're arti.
cles in a pantomime under the influence
of the hsrlequins wand. As to the
habits of servants in this respect, they
only show what strict supervision is
necessary.
Some servants, for example, object to
having the side door Of house locked
at particular hour in the evening, as.
suming that regulation to be a reflection
on themselves; and accordingly they
will carry to their mistress at the ap-
pointed hour this particular key, but
leaving the side door open, and open it
remains necessarily for the rest OF the
night. Others, again, End that partie-
al hflf har NJ xuffa Il ~ -
and instead of representing this circum-
stance to the mistress, or of taking lit
tie extra trouble, will contentedly be-.
lieve that no great danger can ensue
from leaving the bolt or bar off, in view
of the fact that the police are supposed
to be pstrollipg up and down all night
long Others, again, are of simple and
unsuspicous turn OF mind, glad TO have
little area or Backyard gossip with any
body, however much of a stranger be or
she may be; and on what subject is a
servant more voluble than on the domes-
tic laws and habits Of master and mis-.
tress.
1t is true that mistaken charity on
the part of the mistress is frequently
made stepping-stone TO aburglary. The
servants are permitted to give away the
scraps Of the kitchen to poor folks com
ing about; and naturally this exercise Of
patronage is much enjoyed by the ser.
wants, who may in consequence favor
the. recipients of their bounty with
species OF lofty acquaintanceship. The
information that can thus be obtained by
expert thieves is singularly minute and
accurate.
Again and again people whose houses
have been burgariously entered have lost
jewelry aud other articles from partieu.
lar recesses, the very existence Of which
could not have been guessed at by any
one not intimately familiar with the hab.
its Of master or mistress; and they have
Immediately jumped TO the conclusion
that their servants were accomplces in
the robbery, and so the servants prob.
ably we're, but very unintentional and
innocent accomplices The information
they gave was not intended by them to
facilitate a theft, though it was used
for that purpose. Thieves betray won
derfnl facility in acquiring knowledge
regarding the domestic habits and ar
rangcments Of people They do not
rush on danger lightly. They could as
tonish many householder by their ia.
miliarity with his time Of retiring to rest,
with the temper Of the dog in the back
yard, with the proportion Of the plate
chat is silver and the plate that only
looks like silver.
/. There are some very simple precau-
tions against robbery which every house.
holder may fairly be expected to take.
If his house be large and detached one,
he should never retire to rest without q
personal round of inspection, and the
assurance that each window had been
secured and each key turned. No def.
mite reliance is to be placed on servants
who, at night, may become indolent and
negligent from the days work. In other
houses the mere presence of a terrier
loud of tongue, is an excellent safeguard.
Nothing so thoroughly frightenS q thiet
as sharp and sudden noise 10 the mid,
de Of the night; on hearing that alarm
be will throw down his booty and fly
though moments reflection would have
convinced him that he had abundant
chance Of getting safely Off
Then the householder should, from
time to time, make thorough investiga-
ton Of the lower regions of the house
testing the bolts and locks, which are
frequently subjected to a few nights
gentle manipulation before the bur
glsr makes his final effort. Another
danger arises from the habit many fami.
lies have Of going on Sunday evening to
church, leaving no one in charge of the
house, and then, as the ordinary precau.
tions attending the locking up for the
night are considered unnecessary, the
thief, who has been watching his chance
lnds the way practically clear
These hints and suggestions should be
acted upon by every householder. There
is no greater encouragement to robbery
than to offer, by euIpable negligence
free entrance into ones dwelling, Such
negligence is to be deprecated as much
in the interests of the public as those o.
fbo inl;rtduol hiv,oo1f