The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1895-05-10
PROFANITY ON THE STREETS.

note in his letter to the Daily. The
subject referred to by him is one that
has often been alluded to by THE
COLUMBIAN. If it we're generally
known that profanity is punishable by
arrest and fine for every oath, it
might not be so common on the streets.
Or perhaps it is known, but the prac-
tice has gone on SO long with i'm
punity that the loafers know that they
are perfectly safe, even though their
profanity and ohscenity are uttered in
the presence and hearing of police
men. A few arrests would check this
thing, and it is high time, for to our
knowledge it has gone on unmolested
for the past twenty years or more.
Here is Mr.. Weeks letter, above
mentioned.
BLOOMSBURY, PA, April 80, 1906.
EDITOR DAHY:-I have noted more
than once in your paper word in be-
half of the morals of our community.
That is right, and l, for one, thank
you. Monday evening you made a
motion about profanity on our streets.
| second the motion. 1t is nuisance
enough to have our sidewalks blocked
with loafing men and boys, but when
they stand there using filthy and pro-
fame language, it is outrageous and
lawlesS in the extreme. What wisdom
is there in putting down these fine
pavements, if they are to be used in
this way2 1t would be both pleasant
er and safer for our wives and child
ren to walk the muddy alleys of a
third class town, than it is for them
now to walk the main street of our
city on summer evening. We can.
not say very much about our "beauti-
full town." Mr.. Editor, until we clear
away some of the moral filth from our
streets at least. The names of God
and of Jesus Christ are very dear to
me, and when l cannot pass along
the streets without hearing those
names loudly blasphemed, l feel that
in that respect the community is law
less, and that / am not protected in
my proper rights. If men must swear,
let them do it in the hearing only of
those who like to hear that kind of
talk. I earnestly call for the enforce
ment of the law. GEO. f. WEEKS.
The act of 1894 reads as follows {:
eff any person of the age of I6
years or upwards, shall profanely curse
or swear, by the name of God. Christ
Jesus or the Holy Ghost, every person
so offending, being thereof convicted,
shall forfeit and pay the sum of sixty
seven cents for every such profane
curse or oath and in case he shall
refuse or neglect to pay the said for
feiture, or goods and chattels cannot
be found, whereof to levy the same by
distress, he shall be committed to the
house of correction of the proper
county not exceeding "a hours for
every such offense of which he is con-
victed."
Any such person cursing or swear.
ing by any other name or thing, shall
on conviction, pay fine Of 40 cents
| lol CNCly SuCl oIlcnSe.
AS to indecent language, Town Or
dinance number one, section four,
reads as follows
If any person shall use indecent,
rude or wanton language X with
in the presence or hearing Of females
passing along the street, he shall be
arrested without warrant, on view by
any policeman, and on conviction,
pay fine not exceeding five dollars
and costs.
Let the pulpit and the press join
hands In this matter, and pound away
until this practice is broken up. The
season is at hand when ladies sit out
on the porches in the evening, but it
is unpleasant to do SO because of the
vulgarity and obscenity of passing
crowds of young men who seem to
think they have special license in
Bloomsburg to offend the ears of
girls and women, as we'll as of clergy
men and others to whom such Ian,
guage is offensive. 1t cannot be
hoped that all men can be prevented
from swearing, but they can be made
TO understand that they must not IN,
dulge in the habit in places where
sensitive ears may be offended.