The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1896-09-26

weeks ago Colonel
Alexander Hoag-.
land, the news
boys friend" came TO Kansas City,
and II was due to his efforts that the
city council Of Kansas City, Kan, en-
acted an ordinance establishing a cur
few, which, from March to Oct. l, is
sounded at O'Clock az night and dur
ing the winter months at o'clock.
There is no bell loud enough to carry
its warning to all parts Of the town, so
the siren whistle at Armour's packing
house was pressed into service, and
at o'clock each night 1t blows its
warning to vagrant childhood. The
mature age OF Is years, however, Is
proof against the terrors Of the curfew
whistle.
The curfew law across the state line
is very much respected by the little
people, to whom 1t Is, and very proper
ly, too. a serious matter. Parents in
Kansas City, Kan, are delighted with
It, for they are sure to have their chill
dren home betimes. The children know
the value of their short lease Of liberty
in the evening and play from supper
time until o'clock with vigor that
is delightful. At half-past s the play
grows faster At a quarter TO 8 u.
rushes. At five minutes to 9 it is
feverish scramble. Then, when 8 o'clock
comes and the curfew roars out from
Armour's big whistle, there is scat.
tering. A boy shouts, There she goes"
and half a minute afterward there is
not a child in sight. The earth seems
to have literally swallowed them.
The small boy Of uncertain age has
way OF lodging the issue that is in
genious. There are boys who look IL
years old and are IL. There are other
boys who are Is and look II. 1t is
toss-up as to which Is the luckier OF
the two. The first is a puzzle to the
policeman and the other can prove
his age by the family bible II neces-
sary.
The other evening a crowd Of small
boys were engaged in the delectable
pastime Of cutting a watermelon" the
joint property of them all. in front Of
Minnesota avenue grocery store.
How do you like the curfew ordi-
nance, boys?" asked a man who was
watching the performance.
Huh 1t don't bother me none" said
small-bodied boy with an old face.
I'm 16, amt l. fellers?"
Nav, yer amt" said one. Eyer on'y
10, yah"
We'll. yer bet yer sweet life I'm Is
when the whistle blows, anyhow"
And that is the way great many OF
the boys will reckon their ages for sew
eral years to come IL the curfew ordi-
nance remains in force.
The little girls respect the curfew
nightly. and when it blows they sour
~ away home as fast as their little
legs will carry them, even il they are
only two doors away from home and
not a policeman within a mile. They
have a greater fear Of the law than the
boys, and their fear of policeman and
the processes Of the law is awful.
The policemen like the curfew. For
half an hour after it blows they are
made a trifle more active in getting
over their beats and driving children
home, which, however, is not difficult
task, for the children fee at the sight
o; policeman. One night policeman
met a small boy going along at about
half after O'Clock and said to him:
Here, do you know the curfew has
Blew" This is exactly what the po-
liceman said.
YES" answered the boy. But me
father sent me after a box Of blackin'
like this" and the youngster pulled an
empty tin box from his pocket.
"well. come along home with me"
said the policeman, AN well see how
about this"
So together they went to the boys
home, the boy not at all eager. Tho
boys father looked at the boy and
then at the policeman and said:
That's only one OF his tricks He's
worked that blaekia' 1ox on the po-
Iicemen for a month" So the blacking
box was taken away, but 1t is likely
that the boy found something else be-
1