Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1895-09-23
nrrr GuACE As 10 "corPERs."

BiIf hlA ~ ~ WI sh's
A few days ago, In one Of the elites
Of the East, there was an examination
ofcandidates desiring to lill a vacancy
on the police force. We do not recall
how many applicants pttsen,oi them
selves, nor doe, II matter; In view OF
the decision that was arrived nj. there
were altogether too many; and vita
view 10 preventing needless competi.
lion for the futuru--at least IN plncsb
where the same criterion Of eligibility
IL observcd--we deem Il proper TO give
the occurrence full publicity.
Fist OF oil, the SUCCESSFUL applicant
was found 10 be not less than fivo feet
ten inches In height, and hi, weight
was over i05 pounds. His leg measured
10 many inches nj the calf, aud 10
many more at the thigh; ami his arm,
as to wris,s ami blcops, was found 20 be
equally gratifying In It's proportions.
His chss, measure when the lungs were
empty Of mir anu also when they were
full, WA accurately noted; and the slEe
Of his neck as well US the color OF his
eyes went into tho liet OF his
qualifications. lie was accepted
by acclama,Iop. aud the re-
naming competitors were peremf-
torlly sent back to their respective
Avooa,ions OF places VI abode. Yet
A.. 49, Aa lar
OF this Adonis's nerve or judgment
was looked into at all. The examining
board made no Inquiry NJ to his couf'
age or the amount and quality Of tue
gray matter under his skull. They
seemed to resume that because he
camo up TO the standard In the matter
OF avoirdupois, his mental attributes
mus, be- ccrrospOndlngly perfect-aDd
he was placed on the pay roll accord.
ingly.
II seems 10 us that We have hoard OF
similar tests Of polleemen's qu,lirot-
lions In certain wosiern town, with n
shltt,lRhtedusss almost pnorlle, the
ia igss have declared that blgness was
the object sought. Activity, bravery,
coolne.s and common sonse went for
naught n the applicant did not tip tbs
scales at n particular figure, or did not
come up TO the requisite height.
Such Judges have evidently forgotten
the experiments OF Frederick this
Great and Napoleon. The former
would have pet guard regiment Of
slx.foolers aud tho latter wanted a
corpa with big nosoi. At the very fret
engagement At close quarters both or
CARNATIONS ran inglorlously a.
way; and the two great
warriors theteupon concluding that
nyhting qualities depended neither on
the length OF the soldier nor the slzs
OF his nose. recruited their guard
regiments with men who were not
afraid Of gunpowuer aud VINO would
not turn tail anu H. at the flrsi vollvy
OF tho enemy.
A largt-boned, round.cheoked, portly
police force may be thing OF beauty;
but beauty, II seems & us, IL loss TO DO
desired In such case than utility.
beef Ia not the ohiy desiieTAtum In n
guardian oithe peace. The rules above
referred 10 as constituting the quallii.
cations OF the eastern policeman would
have barred olt TIE very beet officer
salt Lake CITY ever hAd--a man who
could handle half n dozen ordinary
six.ioolere, ami who with his small
fquAd Of nervy little associates, could
and did put lubberly gianis, anu many
OF them, to flight or In the "co5lor,"
II should be the ounces OF brain, not
the pounds OF bone aud tallow, that
receive consideration In selections for
such positions. Any other rulo is nor
sente, and we hope nothing OF the klnd
will ever be attempted here.