Grand Rapids morning telegram., 1884-12-31
SOME OBSERVATIONS
BY A PERIPATETlc GENTLEMAN,
Court Room Loungers-The Law and
Order League at Work filthy
Streets Good Resolutions.

The Observer occasionally strolis into the
police court, the justice courts and the higher
courts, not To interest himself IN the pro-
eeedings any further than To size up the
criminals and the audience. Yesterday he
happened into Justice Westfall's court, which
on account of the crowd, had been adjourned
temporarily to Judge Parrish's court. The
room was packed with a singular, interest
ing crowd of people. Their appearance did
not indicate wealth or refinement, and 10
Judge from the weeks growth of beard on
their faces nine-tenths of the men did not
have the price of shave. All were appar-
emily able-bodied men out of work. Here
and there could be seen one who from a
doggish expression of countenance indicated
that his instincts were low and his only liter
ature recitals of crime and debauch-
cry. Most of them were i'll clad,
,collarless and dirty How so many
people can idle away their time and
look fat and well fed is mystery which
puzzled others in the room besides the OBJ
server. A man, in prominent position in
this city, remarked, II can't understand for
the life of me how some of these fellows get
along. My business brings me into the diff
ferent courts every day, and i notice the
same spectators especially il there is GRIM
inal case on trial, and the smuttier the evi-
dence the larger the attendance" / would
venture to swear that there are 1900 men
out of employment in this city, who have
scarcely done days work in six months
The Observer does not doubt this latter as
sertion, and believes the figures could be
placed little higher, for scarcely day
passes but his attention is called to the dis
charge of men from different concerns in
the city. Verify, it is hard winter and the
bottom of suffering and want in this city
has by no means been reached yet.
To mention the filthy condition of the
streets is to but remind the public of gen
eral observation. In some places, particu-
larly at the crossings, the muddy water is
nearly foot deep, and to preserve patent
leather polish on ones shoes is beyond con-
sideration. As a consequence the gentler sex
are obliged to remain in doors, thereby de-
priving the sidewalks, especially in the
vicinity of the principal stores, of much
gaity and life. To the one who strolls UP
and down the streets every day, of course on
business, it removes the monotony of pas
sing street cars, and the buildings, to have
attention diverted to a pretty face. But that
pleasure will be looked for only in memory
until the rain ceases to fall, and the mud
freezes up and the snow flies again.
The Law and Order League are doing
something more than going through the
formality of holding meetings. They have
commenced doing business, and the viola
tors of the laws are getting decidedly squ'an-
ish. The agent of the League is at present
engaged in furnishing the liquor dealers with
copies of the law and ordinances regulating
that traffic, at the same time keeping his eye
open for violations of the same. Many of
the dealers in this city sell liquor to minors.
This is a crime, and no man with any taint
of manhood in him, will consent to do il.
There are plenty of men in this city over
twenty-one years of age willing TO sustain
the liquor traffic without reaching out for
the patronage of boys, and the Peripatetic
hopes Mr.. Thornton will be especially
vigorous in the prosecution of this offense
Tomorrow will dawn the beginning of
new year. With it comes the resolve TO
swear-not to use profane language-but
swear to do or not to do some particular
thing. And in this swear is included tobac-
co, whiskey and various other failings flesh
is heir to. Some will swear to get married.
others will not. But after that swear to
abstain from evil and start out with the
hopes of becoming sanity good comes that
fearful after thought TO break. Aye here's
the rub, yet it is all great struggle between
will and habit. The man with strong will
swears of with himself, while the person
who grasps hand with a friend and in the
grasp they mutually agree under penalty of
forfeit not to smoke or drink any more.
the chances are that they will catch each
other at il in less than a month. while the
man who swears by himself usually keeps
his resolution. The Peripatetic will resolve
to be more frisky and keener than ever, and
to keep his readers posted "a 10 the minufesf
detail of the inside workings of the city. He
has noticed abuses and shortcomings here