Telegram-herald., 1891-07-02
GATHERED ABOUT TOWN
Incidents and Talk In ths streets
ana BywayA
4 FOOLISH BOY, 4 CHILD AND 4 BIKE
What the sacesss Of the Races Means
Cannot We Celebrate the foarth In
. Rational Wsy-Opsnieas On
Thirsy Dsy Sentence.

IL LOOKS as thOusl the races were So-
ing 70 be success this time. Never be-
fore has the FIRST day opened as auspic.
ieusly as il did yesterday. both IN point
OF attendance aud interest Gsand
Rapids has had horse association for
over fifteen years and year after year,
after the annual meeting was over the
members had to 20 down IN their pock-
etand pay assessmeutsf Tor deficits which
the receipts continually failed to make
good. The society did not die as soon
as one body of members got tired of
paying assessments, there were other
plucky men willing to take their places
aud maintain its existence. Success this
year, with the improved tracks and
other required facilities means better
horses in the future meetings which
will be held.
With the voice of the pool seller and
the vibrations on "Dominick'4 harp
and the conversation which poured
forth from three or four hundred
mouths, there was q perfect din in the
Offices of the Morton last evening. Yet
they did not make near the noise that
like number of politicians would have
made. They were talking of the result
of the days speeding and guessing on
what might happen AZ the track on the
morrow. All of the guests, and that
means furniture buyers and CONNER
cial men, were all manifesting lively
interest, whiie Boyd Pantlind and
Clerk Dibble busted themselves with
the room rack, trying to figure where
they could house the great crowd
present and prospective for the night.
A fellow came down Pearl-st., yester-
day forenoon on "bike. Pitched on the
seat in front of him was q little child.
The child seemed contented, but those
who Witnessed the speeding wheels
received almost nervous shock as they
thought of "headers" and collisions
and then how would that child come
out in event of such a catastrophe? 1t
Was certainly. reckless and foolhardy
in the young man who was guiding the
machine.
In two days more the Fourth Of July
will pass unrecognized IN formal way
In Grand Rapids. 1t will not be en-
tirely quiet and peaceable, however, a
fact which most citizens will probably
realize very shortly after midnight to-
morrow. The old fashioned Fourth is
In some respects an idiotic form of
frenzy. Ii gives every lawless urchin
the privilege TO endanger life
and destroy property. 1t means
noise, heat, smoke and peril
nd AaA
port of the police and fire department,
whose services have been in demand
caring for the victims of accidents, and
suppressing flames. 1t is hard to ex-
PLAIN why patriotism should be assOci-
ated with firecrackers, fiery serpents
and brass pistols. There are certainly
more rational and enabling ways Of
celebrating Independence Day. Fourth
of July of late years has been the
gamins day in this city, and orderly and
sane people fly from town on that day,
to escape the disturbing racket and
noise. This is Decorating the day, not
celebrating it.
Monday Justice Hydorn sentenced
two young men to Jail for thirty days
for being drunk, not allowing the alter
native Of fine. They were young
too young too drink--and were having
an insane hifaluten TIME at the lake.
Some have commented on the sentence
as being severe and wonder why friends
have not resorted to 3 habeas corpus in
their behalf. One gentleman talking
yesterday said: "The disgrace of being
imprisoned may have the effect Of dis
couraglng those young men
and they may continue in u
downward career" while another
expressed just the opposite IN saying
ut may result in good. Now have
been quite 'rounder' and have squan-
dered a good many dollars in red
paint and if l had been locked up the
first time got full, it would probably
have saved me good many thou
sand dollars that / spent before
l realized the folly of my ways. If
these young men have any pride or
self esteem they may brace up when
realessed." Drunkenness is certainly
the mIldest offense for which 4 person
may be locked up. The late Judge
Holmes once said that policeman
ought not to arrest q man for simply
beng drunk If he was gong along
quietly and was trying to get home and
il il very probable that the bbalously
inclined will consider this opinion
sound.