Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1893-09-08

His authority Is respected In his presence
and secuted when his back Is turned. He
b scoffed at, made fun of, derided, where
ever be goes. nhe goes into picture gal
lery, he finds himself Knocked on its walls.
II he goes to the circus, he behQlds 9 coun-
terfeit presentment of himself kicked all
over the ring. to the immense diversion Of
the audience. He cannot put his head In
side theater without hearing joke at
his own expense An ugly fellow comes
upon the stage, supposed surgeon per-
forms an imaginary operation on his head
md removes his brains "What can man
do without brainsf' is asked, and in re-
spoi,se some one runs to the wings, brings
back q police coat and hat, puts them on
the brainless individual aqd behold him
fitted out as policeman, while the boys
In the gallery scream and the men In the
audience turn round to look at the police
naen standing up behind to see how he
tAks, the Joke = -,
III sh Jokes az these would embitter bis
life. for he knows they represent popular
feeling Of dislike to him and his calling, did
he not also know perfectly well that half
the laughers would themselves like to he
policemen If they only had the influence
necessary to secure an appointment. So he
does not take anything much to heart, but
goes on his way performing his multifarious
duties as we'll as he can. And, after all, in
spite of the tongue abuse and the jests at
his expense be knows that beneath the sur
face there is firmly grounded fear of his
authority not for his own sake, but because
he represents the majesty Of organized so
ciety. A crowd Of friends may strive in
vain to separate two drunken brawlers; a
policeman appears and strife Is at an end.
Either might be far more than a match for
him personally, but everybody understands
that behind him stand the whole force, and
the captains, and the chief, and the govern
or, and the militia, and, Il necessary, the
blue coated veteranof the regular army and
the president OF the United States.
While the life Of q patrolman is tolerably
monotonous, the nature Of his duties fire.
quently gives him opportunity for distinc-
ton and promotion. With his feet once
firmly planted on the ladder of advance
ment, an able and ambitious policeman
may climb to positions OF great honor and
responsibility and may even achieve ma
tional fame, In this connection the career
Of Thomas f. Byrnes, who started as pa
trplmal and is now superintendent OF the
New York police department, is suggestive.
Byrnes has . worldwide reputation and is
known as q detective OF extraordinary skill
and address. Inspector Williams Is an
other New Yorker OF national celebrity who
reSe from the humble position OF patrol
man.
Similar examples ct the opportunities
open to honest, energetic and ambitious po-
licemen may DO pointed ont In nearly every
$lafne niIy. There for instance, is Michael
Brennan. who was recently made superin-
tsndent Of the Chicago police force. he
emierated TO Chicago from Ireland in 1852
and entered the police force as patrolman
III 1870. After two years on his beat he
was made desk sergeant. Superintendent
Washburne made him q lieutenant. Under