The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1891-10-22

Editor Of Pilot To the writer and
possibly others who are readers of your
valued paper, it seems very peculiar that
SO little mention is ever made in The
Pilot" of the department of boys on the
streets of Manitowoc. The fact cannot
be hidden that the moral condition OF a
large part of the Manitowoc boys is not
at all creditable to their parents, and the
institutions of the city.
The writer certainly is not the sole
possessor of tie knowledge that smoking
seems to be very prevalent habit among
the young boys of the city. The sight of
two or three Young boys parading the
street with cigars or cigarettes in their
mouths, may be daily seen, and worst of
all, no thoughts of wrong-doing ever
seem to enter their young minds, for they
will look passers-by, just as squarely in
the eye, as though they knew of nothing
reprehensible in smoking. There GER
talnly can be no doubt of the fact that by
far the larger part of the inhabitants Of
act in their sons, were it known to them
But the writer has positive knowledge OF
the yonng sons of respectable people liv-
ing in the city, who are addicting them
selves to this habit.
Who is to blame for this deplorable con-
dition of our future citizens? Those who
furnish such things to children, of course
But not these alone. Those parties in
whose power it lies to prevent such acts
on the streets are partly to blame for its
existence. But the source from which
boys get their cigars or cigarettes is
chiefly to blame.
A few days since, 0ast Sunday the
writer was walking up the railroad track,
and passed by boys, whose ages, Judging
by their size, mus have ranged, between
9, and Ii yrs. One of tee boys was
smoking fresh cigar. Hardly had /
passed them, when in looking back, 1 was
astounded a. seeing them each take a
good swallow from a pint.bottle. 1t GER
tainly was not milk or water. It was
whiskey bottle. Where did the boys get
these supplies? OF the source there is
little doubt. In our opinion, and we are
confident that we are not alone in it, the
saloon-keeper or cigar dealer, or any other
person who supplies boys with such
| things without proper safeguards as to
its use is an inhuman wretch, devoid o.
human impulses, hence not deserving of
human sympathy. Such a person ought
to be prosecuted to the bitter end. 1t is
to be regretted that the laws of Wiscon-
sin on this subject are not more severe,
and more conscientiously enforced
Some weeks ago the writer took the
burning stump" of cigar from year
old boy, who was smoking it with SEEM
ing pride.
Three days after we had another oppor-
tunity of doing missionary work in this
line by taking the burning stump" of
cigar from an s year old boy. About
month ago we were met by a request
| from the spokesman of or 5 boys whore
ages were perhaps, between and 10 yrs
| for match to light a cigar. They prob
ably intended to share the pleasure of
the weed, but were cruelty refused a
match to light it with, with the additional
loss of their beloved cigar. These are
not by any means the only occasions we
had of witnessing nor are we the only
witnesses of such sights. They are of
| almost daily occurrence. Now can any
thing be done to check, or if possible to
stop this condition of affairs, is ques-
ton which ought seriously to be consider
ed by our citizens, our schools, our
churches and our police.
"a TEACHER"