Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-07-29

choice places are regarded by the
larrikin as his own private preserves.
Here be loafs by day to pass vulgar
comments ON better-dressed people.
whom be regards as trespassers, and
here be sleeps or makes his headquar-
tiers by night.
The larrikin has been known to work,
but IL was under the duress OF the pris-
on or to crafty hunger. never from
choice, for he would rather steal
penny than earn pound.
In land whose public schools are
quite as good as and far more expensive
than those Of New England, and where
education is supposed 10 be compulsory,
the larrikin remains ignorant from
incapacity or choice. Unframed TO any
calling, all his Inherited tendencies are
to deceit and cunning. He Is the
1shmaellte Of Australian CIVILIZATION,
and as he multiplies even faster than
the toilers on whom he lives. his eradi-
cation may soon become as essential 10
the cities as the destruction OK the rao-
Bit pest is to the country.
He drinks, smokes and swears, but
these are minor vices. A coward oy
instinct, he moves in gangs or push
es," as they are called here, and In
sheer wantonness they have been known
to stone or kick to death citizens who
refused to give them money. and their
treatment to helpless women who have
fallen into their hands exceeds In
brutality the charges made against our
own nomad Indians.
Longsufferipg though the people OF
the United States are. il the laTs did
not protect them against such curse
as the larrikin, ia self-defence they
would take the law into their own hands
and destroy them root and branch. or
relegate them, In the language OF
famous American, 10 condition OF in
nocuous desuetnde.
The police in the Australian cities
are numerous enough and brave
enough to make short work OF the larri-
kin, IL their power was not restrained
and their efficiency hampered by the
refusal TO permit them To carry arms.
The Australians have commendable
horror OF concealed weapon. ! doubt,
III a search were made Of every man 10
Melbourne to-day, police included,
whether one could be found who had q
pistol In his possession. IL IS hns
English custom, which, Ike the many
other English customs adopted into THIS
land, does not work so well as AZ home,
for there is one thing worse than KILL
ing human being, and that Is TO lei
him Kill, or even main, you.
1t Is counting insult for lone woman.
ixrA n
streets OF the principal Australian cities
st night; nor Is the danger confined 10
tho larrikin class nor 10 the thorough
fares most resorted TO by the degraded
OF both sexes. The larrikin, however,
comes out strongest at night. 10 great
crowds he blocks up the sidewalks and
pours on the pedestrian who asks 10
pass q torrent OF incomprehensiole
Slang and obscene invective, nor Is DO
restrained by the fact that the man
may havs q lady with him; indeed, this
seems TO give him the greater license.
On these occasions he is frequently ac-
conpanied by the female whom no
calls una doenah" (can IL be that this
Is a corruption OF the Italian ma donna
my lady?)-thouah as a rule she Is
of securing the streets In search OF her
prey, usually drunken men, oil whom,
unfortunately. one sees many more here
than In the United States.
81 don't want TO sec these colonies
involved In war;" said gentleman
with whom ] was discussing the Iarri-
kin curse, "but often feel that war
would be q blessing IL IL cleared Us OF
the larrikin. as / think II would do"
"In what wsy?" asked.
why" he replied, "they would en-
list or be drafted, and then they would
be killed or die Of camp diseases"
undecelved this gentleman by as
surfing him that was not our experience
IN the United States. Our depraved
class not only did not make good SOL
dIers, but tbey were the curse oil the
army. They sbirked the front, filled
the hospitals under tho pretense OF be-
ing sick, made up the army OF tbievinR
stragQlers, and tested, as deserters, the
capacity OF our Ruardhousss and Jails.
Then, he said hopelessly. II don's
see how we are ever TO get rid or this
eyer.threatenlng aud ever.Increasing
evil"
But, so long as good men are In the
majority-and they certainly are In
these colonlss-and the law-makIng
machinery Is In their hands. they arc
directly to bIams for the increase OF the
sundowner and the spread OF larrl-
kInism. II is in their power now to
pass strict vagrant laws and TO enforce
them remorselessly, having care,
however, to distinguish between the
honest nan out OF employment and tho
man who Is a loafer and parlah from