New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1883-12-22
THE uJLWAUKEE COWBOTS.

Milwaukee furnishes the most recent example OF
the rcrnicIous effects Of much of the current boys
literature. Tho arrest of four boys, sons OF re-
sp,ctable parents on numerous charges Of incen-
diarisrn has been the means of laying bare shock
ing story Of youthful deprayity and crime. Fas-
cnatcd by the criminal and vicious literature
which for many years past has been teemlhB from
hundreds of presses, these four boys planned
and orgauized miniature cowboy society. At first
the public library of Milwaukee was the trysting
Mace: and under the pretenco Of reading the pa
pers there, they met daily to read the pernicious
books and serials which they brought with them
and placed between the pages of the papers.
Later they improyised pirate den" out OF
an old barn which they decorated with rusty
swords old knives and ancient pistols. In this
"dcn they were in the habit Of meeting nightly
with large stock of fash literature. They elected
As their captain the boy who had the most gall
n mart of the initiation consisted in smoking an un-
limited numbered cigarettes and chewing Drando OF
the viest plug tobacco Cast-iron oaths were
taken binding the members to commit deeds OF I'M
heard of yllauy; and an atmosphere OF crime soon
became natural to these misguided lads, whose aY-
erape age was no moro than fourteen years.
From the conception of crime to its execution IS
only step. The members soon began 10 sally Iorth
IN search of plumber, and numerous thrifty house
which were incautiously left exposed. But the
6cbinc of occasional preserve jars soon became un-
interesting. and something more bloOd-curdng was
deuanled The limitations of urban life rendered
mnossbe most of the diversions of the noble cow
! bov. and 4 degenerate civilization stood ready to
prevent any too open imitation of that latest deyel-
opment of manly prowess. But setting fire to build
| ings was always an easy possibility. Ana IL pos
sessed not only the merit of being deeply VILLAIN
! ous Int also gloriously exciting. 1t was
| easy for these youthful followers of Jesse
James TO find plenty of preccdents for this
| novel but effective method of committing crime.
| OF course the unfortunate lads were eventually
| coupht and the confession of number OF them has
resulted in the conviction of three of the band and
thew will be sent to the State Reform School until
they are twenty-one years of age. 1t may well be
doubted. however, if seven years imprisonment
among youths more deprayed than they, is a wise
| measure of REFORM And IN view of the fact that
! those who are morally responsible for their crime
will 90 scot free their sentence seems unnecessarily
severe. They 60 into the Reform School the victims
of their Youthful ignorance, but with no criminal
| Instincts They may come ont hardened criminals.
The lesson which all this teaches is so timewOrn
that IL seems hardly necessary TO rcpeai The evil
of pernicious literature for boys and girls rapidly
attaining gigantic proportions. Some one in speak
| ing Of the good literature now provided for the
young, has happily called this age the "children's
| paradise" But we must remember that vast num-
beers of children not only never read this good itera-
ture but are on the other hand, daily drinking in
stories reeking with filth and redhanded with every
species of crime That such literature should exist
andhourish Is q monstrOus offence against good
morals.
One of these Milwaukee boys when reprimanded
for his bad habits was accustomed to reply defanty
"Oh Pm PeclS's bad boy, am, aud don't you forget
| it, The TRIBUNE has already expressed an opinion
about that vulgar harmful book, which Is sngulary
justified by this incident. Another of the boys ex
pressed wish to look like tough" Hispersonal
outfit when arrested consisted Of knife, cowboy