Daily Republican., 1885-07-07
Corner LOunEers

We hope that Chief OF Police
Dougherty will persevere in his efforts
to break the disreputable corner loung-
lug that has so long been the cause of
complaint not only OF shop keepers, but
of respectable ladies who are often in.
suited by intended offensive remarks.
He certainly deserves credit for what
he has done 80 far. In the performance
of this delicate task, great discretion
has TO be used in regard to who may
be called habitual corner loungers. 1t
will not do to call every body who may
NEE. friend on the street and step
ping aside to the curbstone, or up to
the steps of a building, to talk over
m after Of business moment or two,
a corner lounger, nor do we believe
Chief Dougherty and his police will
look upon them a. such, and it should
not be forgotten either that all classes
of persons have occasion to stop each
other and make inquiry Of some busi-
ness or family matter. II the banker
wants to say word about stocks, dis.
count, and notes of credit, the poor
man ON his way to his daily labor may
meet neighbor and ask about some
household or business matter of equally
rs much importance 10 them rs stocks
and percentages are to the wsalthier
class. Nor should it be forgotten that
colored people have rights that cannot
be overlooked. They are social beings
and are composite part of our popu-
lation, endowed with the same rights
and privileges as their white neighbors
They have the same causes for stopping
each other in the street and exchang.
ing few words of either congratula-
tions or business as white people have.
Because Front street and N arket, from
Front up to Second, have become noto-
rious as places of resort for the worst
classes OF colored people is no reason or
argument that the state of affairs exist
every rywhere. Even amongst the N Of
ley assemblages on Front arc excep-
tions, and yet we are free 10 admit
that it were better to drive every body
in doors, even including those who
may have little business with each
other than to submit TO a continuance
Of such disorder as has disgraced that
locality.
The real corner lounger is known by
several peculiarities. They congregate
and occupy the same place day after
day. They stand when it suits them,
and when they get tired, if they can
find no copveIisIt stcop or yard curb
to ait on, they lean themse!yes against
the side of house They are mostly
chewers and smokers, and these COM
blned with the drinking of beer and
bad whisky make very offensive at.
mosphere in the neighborhood where
they stand or siL. Some of them wear
very good store clothes, which their
poor mothers try to keep in good order
for them. They talk loud and ere
booked up in all the slang phrases.
They think it adds to their standing
to use big cuss - words. Their CHIEF
exercise is to spit tobacco juice at 6
mark on the pavement and the more
expert vary the exercise by splitting OIL
ladies dresses. These are the most of
fensive class Of corner loungers and tn
class that needs breaking up i'm
medistely. Chief Dougherty can In n,
other way earn the esteem of the re
spectacle people OF Wilmington soone
than by waging an unremitting warfar
against this disreputable class Of corne
loungers. These once broken up other
less offensive, but nevertheless OF
jectionable, will take the hint and ri
tire without being forced to do 30.