Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-12-24
UIsURDEhLY BUTs.
How They Were CurBed In the Early Part OF
the Present Century.

How They Were Curbed In the larry Part OF
the Present Century.
"BOys will be boys" is an old saying, and
IT is daily demonstrated that 1t IL true one.
There are always in every community
number OF people who are chronic grOwlers,
and take every occasion to complain TO the
authorities about boys playing ball on the
streets, coasting on the side walk, throwing
snow balls and a hundred other matters,
that to them are serious ofienses. 1t Is very
proper that boys should be kept within
bounds, and as long as they tr ansgress no
law, police officers should not disturb them
There are occas ions when boys should be
disciplined by the law, a. for instance, ours
ing and swearing on the streets and for cor
ner loating, glance at the files OF the Is.
TELLIGENCER as far back as the beginning
of the present century shows that complaints
as TO boys were as regular as the seasons
The practice then was not to go to the near.
est magistrates Office and make complaint
against twenty or thirty boys, have them ar
rested, taken before the burgess or Justice
and reprimanded, and the cases dismissed
with county for costs. The columns Of the
paper were open to all communications for
the general good of the community
In the issue of the ISTELLIGENCER Of
June 20, 1901, there appears the following
communication
The police must be little deficient in their
duty, when every stranger that arrives in
the borough cannot help taking notice of the
conduct OF some of the young men and lads
OF this place. What must strangers think of
our burgess and the justices Of the peace TO
permit under their very noses, groups of
these young men and lads meeting around
the court house in almost every species of
vice, cursng, swearing aud riOting, to the
great annoyance of the peace and happiness
of the good citizens of this borough. There
Is not a Sabbath day pas, es over our heads
that those young men and lads do not meet
regularly In the market house, from morn
ing until night to play ball and riot In the
same manner. Let the corporation call
meeting and take into consideration all those
complaints, and call upon our justices OF the
peace to give them their aid and assistance
to put the law in force and put a stop TO the
great evil so much complained OF. There Ia
not an inhabiiant or master OF a family That
will not cheerfully aid and assist in the exc
cution of the law. The Constables OF this
place might be ordered to take their rounds
and to give Information to the Just ces, who
should issue their warrants 10 hne and bind
over all such transgressors lew such ex-
amples would finally put stop 10 those
complaints. little exertion OF the authority
is only necessary.
AFRIEND OF GooD ORDER.
In the issue of the following week cor
respondent who signs himself "a Dutchman
OF the Corporation" takes exception TO the
above communication aud argues that IL Ia
not the business of the chief burgess to go
nosing around to find out the names OF the
boys who misbehsye on the public streets,
but that 1t Is the duty OF all good citizens to
prevent any further disorder by having the
offenders arrested, even If the party has to
pay the fec necessary to have warrants
issued. (ln those days the parties applying
Tor warrant had to pay the expenses OF the
suit) The communication closes with the
accommodation that the good citizens Of the
town teach their sons, (Which are the princi-
pal ofienders) 10 respect the laws and muni-
cpal officers by wort and their own exam
pie.