The weekly Union times. [volume] (Union C.H., South Carolina) 1871-1894, 1879-08-01

THE "INDULGENCE" OF PIsToLs.--Fail-
ing oil other means of accounting for the
death of Mr.. Seymour, of New York, who
was found killed by pistol shot iu the
grounds of the Theological Seminary, pub.
lie opinion in that city is now settling
down to the belief that he was killed by a
stray shot from some one celebrating in
this reckless way the Fourth of July
Among others a boy student is said to
have been indulginS in such shooting, and
may have caused the disaster unknowngly.
Reports have already peen published of
the wounding or killing Of many persons
by the indscriminate firing of guns and
pistols on that day, and the marvel is that
there were not moro Of these accidents
Since the introduction of toy pistols new
and every day danger has been added, for
what are called "cat and rat" pistols may
be included in the list For men to carry
pistols is reflection upon the civilization
of the age, but to find them in possession
of small boys, and even girls in some in
Stances is public scandal. "During the
Fourth of july" as We learn from Phila.
delphia papers, there were captured there
quite q an armory of revolvers and pistols
of other patterns from persons (mainly
small boys) firing them in the park" The
Ledger, after describing these cheap and
dangerous weapons, adds
"Thc assortment Of pistols just captured
in the park from boys shows there is no
difficulty whatever in the way of children
getting large supply of them, if they have
pocket.moncy enough. That the manufac.
vurers and venders of such weapons under
stand right we'll the scandalous character
of the trade is manifest from the fact that
only one of the whole lot has the makers
name upon it. All the rest are anonymous,
as If ashamed of themselves and the makers
and venders, too"
But the blame attaches quito as much to
the parents of the children as to the man
ufacturers and venders of these "cheap
and rickety and disjointed things" One
of the great defects of social life at the
present day is the decline of parental au.
thority, resulting in many cases from the
indifference of the parents themselves
Children are often permitted larger re.
gree of liberty than is good for them, aud
instead Of engaging in childish sports and
pastimes, they aspire to what Shakespeare
calls "mannishness," to copy what are sup
posed to be manly ways, and to carry man
ly weapons In European countries it is
rare, indeed, for even men to own pistols
and ra-er still to wear them habitually
Public opinon is so emphatically opposed
to the practice that few, indeed, think oi
flying in the face Of it. The custom ol
wearing swords went out of favor three
quarters Of century ago. But those who
INDUCED in it wore them openly. With
us the pistol is concealed, and is more dan
gerous, for tho possession of it is, in ho
blood, provocation to use it. In populou!
cities, where law and order rule, for maj
to plead that he carries pistol for self
dcfonce is, as is truly said, "the flimsiest o
pretcxts." For boys to have them is ever
worse. They are dangerous as toys; they
arc intolcrablc in childish hands as weapon
and the use Of them should bo prohibite,
by all possible penalties. Baltimore Sur