The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-15
Seen IN The PASSING SHOW
Oddities Of Life in the Metropolis Of
Northeastern Pennsylvania.
ESPIsODEs SERIOUS AND GAY
The Little Match Girl Sample OIL Hered'
ity-Scenes in Naturalization Court.
Constitutional Law Exponnded
Other Brief Notes.

watching the swirl and rush Of life,
one sees much that is interesting, much
mat Is amusing and good deal that is
pathetic. Life as 1t, presents itself to
the observer in a city Of even 100000
population, composed of such diverse
elements as are to be found in the Elec-
tric City, where the individual of al
most every nationality under heaven
can find some one to converse with him
In his native tongue, appears in SO many
phases that one is never tired of watch
Ing and studying its varying manifesto
lions. One little barefoot, ragged girl,
so small that her chin hardly comes
above my desk, presents a picture that
Is sad and pathetic, as in her tiny hand
she holds up box of matches and says
In a voice that sounds as though she
had never in her life been happy, or en-
Joyed a real hearty laugh, Wont you
please buy a box of matches, Mister?
only cents box; do, please, buy one"
On her face, in her puny body and
stunted growth; indeed, in her whole
maner, she exhibited to the world an
example Of the legacies we have re-
ceived from our fathers-the inheri-
tance We are transmitting to our child
the iniquities of the IA
theirs upon the children unto the third
and fourth generation"
Matches" is but one instance of
many that excite pity or mirth. Among
those places where amusing things
happen, is the big temple of justice
above Washington avenue. Last week
during the trial Of the culm case the
defendants laid claim to the culm on
the ground that 1t was on five acre
tract Of land which had been granted
to them and upon which they had erect
ed breaker To break the force of this
position the counsel for the plaintiff
showed on cross-eXamination, that the
culm pile In question occupied a dis
tant portion Of the tract from that on
which the breaker stood, and to do this
asked defendants witness II the culm
and the breaker did not occupy differ
ent parts Of the tract. You mean,"
interrupted the attorney for the de-
PENDANTS, that the culm pile was not
on top Of the breaker, and that the
breaker was not on top Of the culm
pile" THAT Is just what l mean,"
said plaintiffs counsel. Anybody
that knows anything would know
that" answered defendants counsel.
Very true" retorted his adversary
but l asked the question for your
benefit"
1t Is whispered among lawyers that
after hearing the judges charge to the
jury in a case which he had tried, q
prominent attorney Of this city went
into court to hear the jury render its
tn h mr.
ton for new trial. with long list
of reasons thereof appended. The ver-
dict of the jury was for his client 1t
need hardly be said that the motion
went out of court the same way 1t
came in-in the attorneys pocket.
The scenes during naturalization
court are usually such as to make patri-
otic Americans serious and thoughtful
The way American citizens are manu-
featured can hardly be considered cred
liable. 1t Is certainly not the purpose Of
the statutes of the United States to ad-
NIT to citizenship, which the fathers in
tended should be privilege and an
honor, those who are totally ignorant of
the principles upon which our govern
ment is based; who understand nothing
Of American institutions or American
constitutions; and who cannot even
understand the language in which the
judge who naturaliZes them addresses
them. The bystander Is not afflicted
with xenophobia; he willingly joins in
welcoming to this country all who
| come to US to better their condition
| and to identify themselves with us
But he does think that 1t Is time to
cease naturalizlng foreigners" Before
| naturalization, the man of foreign birth
should become so identified with us as
| to become an American. He should be
an American In ambition, in belief, ir
patriotic devotion, in spirit and ir
speech.
| Speaking OF naturalization, I wonder
how many Of the readers Of The Trib
une are aware Of the fact that in nC
| less than sixteen OF the states Of tn,
American Union foreigner does no
need to be naturaliZed in order I,
| be entitled to the right to vote. Start
ling as the statement may seem, 1t Il
nevertheless true. 1t is, however, moth
| ing to be proud Of These states are
Alabama, Arkansas Colorado, Florida
Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Mime
sofa, Missouri, Nebraska, North Da
kota, Oregon, South Dakota Texas
Utah and Wisconsin; while in Montan;
the same thing was true prior to tn
18th Of August.
see 1t Is announced that the Prohibi
tionists Of Indiana have given up tn
fight for the election Of their candidate
and are bending their energies to rails
a fund of $4,000 for the purpose Q
prosecuting the election officers Of tina
state for refusing to receive and coun
the votes Of women. The plan as ar
nounced is for Mrs. Helen M. Cougar
who Is widely known among Prohlb
tionists and whose home Is at Lafayett,
Ind, to go to the polls on election da
and demand that she be permitted I
vote. On the refusal of the electio
officers to receive her vote she will CON
mence prosecution against them. 1t
claimed that the Constitution of tn
United States guarantees to every cit
zen his rights, and that the electiy
franchise Is one Of these rights, and tha
as women are citizens the state cannC
deny them this or any other right
is said that the Prohibitionists of othe
states will assist their brethren and 81!
ters OF Indiana in this holy crusad
However advantageous such conte!
may be to Mrs. Cougar to advertise he
lectures, 1t can hardly be considere
wise for others to encourage and asst:
her in her movement. The electiN
franchise Is not natural right but
political privilege, and Is conferred NJ
for the benefit of the individual, but Il
| the good OF the state 1t and citiZenshl