Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1876-08-10
Who Owls OUR FRuIr.-A cores
Pcndent in the Conasry GentIemen writes

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Pndent in the Corafry Genfl<men writes
. follows:
"Will the time ever come when our
rights as to the ownership Of fruit will
be respected. the same as the rights to
all other kinds of property.
"Why is it that fruit is generally
considered free plunder. WHY will
respectable people who would scorn to
molest your other goods and chattles,
walk INTO your orchard or vineyard and
help themselves, without as much as a
"by your leave, sirY' Parents who
Who would be terrified At the idea Of
fhetr children Stealing anything else.
will allow them to run riot over their
neighbors' premises after fruit.
"Is the degree oftheft determined by
the article stolen: If so, then in my
opinion the fruit thief is the most des-
picable and mean Of all the class of pill
ferers. When one sets out hi gh-
priced pear, a new variety of apple or
fancy grapevine for the purpose Of
testing its merits, and cares for it ten
derly for years, and when the fruit puts
in an appearance watches ii with earn
est anxiety until nearly matured, and
it is invested with a value not to be
estimated by dollars and cents-how
irritating it is to walk out some fine
morning and find your specimens have
been appropriated by some scoundrel
To have your house broken open and
your goods stolen would hardly offend
you more. Neither does it reconcile
one to trace the missing fruit to the
home of some respectable family, who
will answer your complaints with, "Oh,
boys will be boys" or al used to steal
fruit when young''-thus indirectly but
none the less surely encouraging them
in their great iniquity.
perhaps some may think that good
people do not allow such things: but |
have caught boys stealing my apples
on their way to Sunday School, and
have nabbed others in my strawberry
lot with the Westminster catechism in
their pocket.
"Children should be taught that rob-
bing orchards in on par with robbine
henroosts-that stealing grapes is not a
whit better than stealing moncy-and
that carrying OFF your neighbors' melons
is as wicked as house-breaking.
'If desired to educate boy for the
state prison or to be vagabond all
his days, | should, commence that
education by teaching him TO steal fruit
the rest would follow easily.
There are very few fruit growers
who will not give away fruit when
asked for it, but their right to refuse is
just as good as is that of the merchant
the banker, or any other class in the
community, to keep their property.
In the present state of public opinion
the law affords no adequate relief. TIC
be sure law stands on our statute
books that would be sufficient could il
be enforced, but this cannot at present
be done. A short time ago in this city
two boys were sentenced to three years
at Auburn for stealing two watches, and
at the same term of the court a man
was sentenced to pay fine of ten dol.
ars-for stealing grapes. Yet the last
had entered the same vineyard repeat.
edly and had probably carried off and
destroyed property of greater value
than in the first instance. Three boy.
were taken before one Of our city Jus.
tees charged with stealing plums.-
Said his honor; is that the only
charge: Why, fused to steal plum.
when was a boy. Complaint dismis'
sed.'
These facts are mentioned not fol
the purpose Of finding fault with the
courts, but to show the current of pub
lie opinion, and also to show what frui
growers have to expect in the presen
state of society. Happily change i.
slowly and pcrceptibly coming over Tho
public mind, and let us hope that the
time is not far distant when the mar
who raises fruit will be considered the
owner of it, !.