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

THE "INDULGENCE" OF PISToLs. Fail
ing all 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 inaulging in such shooting, and
may have caused the disaster unknowingly
Reports have already peen published of
the woundlng or killing Of many persons
by the indiscriminatc firing of guns and
pistols on that day, and the marvel is that
there were not more Of these accidents
Since the Introduction Of toy pistols new
and every day danger has been added, for
what arc 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" us we learn from Phila-
dclphia papers, there were captured there
quite - an armory Of rcvolvcrs and pistols
of other patterns from persons (mainly
small boys) firing them in the park" The
Lc'lgcr, alter describing these cheap and
dangerous weapons, adds {:
"Thc assortment Cf 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
pockct-moncy enough, That the manufac.
turers and venders of such weapons under
stand right well 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 vcndcvs, too"
But the blame attaches quite as much to
the parents Of the children as to the man
uiacturcrs and vendors Of these "cheap
aud rickcty and di$jointcd 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 q larger &c
gree of liberty than is good for them, aud
instead of engaging in childish sports and
pao'iiiSo, thIJ 'SpiiS " "u"I pHdhSpCdIC
calls "mannishncss," 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:cr still to wear them habitually
Public opinion is so cmphatically opposed
to the practice that few, indeed, think OF
flying in the face Of it. The custom oI
wearing swords went out Of favor three
quarters Of a century ago. But those who
INDUCED in it wore them openly. With
us the pistol is concealed, and is more dan
gcrous, for the 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 a pistol for self
defence is, as is truly said, "thc flimsicst o
prctcyts." For boys t. have them is ever
worse Thcy are dan@croua as toys; they
are intolrrah' in childish hands ~ wrarp"
and the use Of them should bc rrohihitc,
hy all possible penalties Bohjmo,r Sw,