Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1893-12-21
Fire Cracker and Horn,

The season has arrived when II be-
comes our duty TO announce and denounce
the Christmas horn. 1t IL true that our
objurgations on this subject In past years
were not attended with marvellous sue
cess; but we hope for better things now
after several Campaigns Of education.
Liberty 10 use the tin horn may be
very well accorded TO boys on Christmas
Day, but 10 extend that time or give the
privilege TO young men 10 parade the
streets in wild revelry would be to coun-
tenance outrages upon the rights OF the
peaceable portion OF the community.
There are few people here who Wish
TO take from childhood n single proper
privilege, but the city is full OF men ana
women who deplcre and denounce the
license which Is too often allowed young
men and boys. 1t is ? fact, known OF
many men. that such license has more
than once expanded into violent outrages
done upon unoffending classes Of citi-
zens.
1t Is the duty Of the police to mini
nize the horn nuisance in the interest
OF all the order-loving public more espe-
ciaIly of the sick. whose numbers are
large at this time on account OF the re-
turn here Of that unwclcome visitor the
grip-a disease which IS generally ac-
companled with headache and nervous
ness
The "pop-cracker" belongs in the cate
tfv "a
use. too. should be restricted to children
on Christmas-day. But neither boys nor
men should be permitted at any time TO
throw nre-crackers under the feet Of
horses. This Is n favOrite pastime at
Christmas with some OF our unruly males,
and it puts many lives IN jeopardy. We
have known physicians to be compelled
10 abandon their bugeies and make their
professional visits, at great inconveni-
cnce, on foot rather than run the ordeal
Of exploding fire-crackers
The larger Richmond grows the more
intolcrant her people will become OF the
misuse Of their streets: the more firmly
they viii insist upon the enforcement Of
the city ordinances by the police. We
are, however, not unmindful Of the fact
that the policeman who arrests any child
"raises Cain" in that childs family. This
is an unfortunate fact. Every mother
deplores the wickeGncss Of her neigh
bors' boys and shuts her eyes 20 the
wlckedness Of her own offspring. Every
father "slde-tracks" all complaints as
= Ia. IL
Boys will be boys; / was boy myself
dice" This deiverance being both origl-
nal ana witty IS supposed to dismiss the
complainant with fun measure of salts
faction.
The police and the public should agree
to enforce the ordinances. 1t Will come
hard at first but when the work Is once
resolutcly entered upon it will grow easier
ana easier. An large cities have had
10 come 1t, Richmond must come to it.
The streets belong to the public, and the
public have the right 10 use them In safe
~ and comfort on Chrlstmas-Day as wei
as on any other day. though. as we have
said. few will be disposed 10 complain Of
mere childish excuses. The monstrous
canHon-cracker and the loaded pistol are
not usually found in the hands OF small
boys
II we cannot Danish the horn and the
cracker entirely-and il would be too
cruel Il thing to think of even-let us,
Richmonders, see II we cannot connne
their use to children and to Christmas
Day, and as far as possible to yards
rather than streets.