The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-08
GOSSIP OF ADAY.
Secretiye Policy Of Police
Department.
Young Lady Does Not Under
stand Inconsistencies.
Asks Question Which Police Author
tiles Might Answer.

Just at present this town appears to be
suffering from an epidemic of rascality in
the way OF robberies and attempted rob-
berries. In some cases the police consent
TO give out reports, hut in others they are
as dunno as the oysters that repose on the
bottom of Bullocks Point cove. OF course,
the police know all about many cases
that never reach the public, but the
present policy of the department appears
to be to give out nothing that the people
do not already know about. This would
be very good theory to work on and a
safe one as well, so far as the police
officials are concerned. IL the victims of
midnight raids were TO become speechless
after they have reported their losses 10
tbe,police. But that doesn't happen very
often, however much the directors OF the
police department may regret the failure
OF sucn q consummation. People VIII
talk and reporters have long cars, so 1t
happens that in many instances the policy
OF secrecy and silence at present pursued
by the controlling powers OF the police
department does not succeed in deluding
the people into sense OF false security.
No sensible person would ask from the
police information which, IL given, might
prevent the arrest of a suspected criminal;
but IL is silly and foolish for the directors
OF the department TO attempt TO cover up
actual crimes and pretend when ques-
toned that they know nothing about
them. In times past this was not the
policy OF the police department, and 1t
may also be remarked that in times past
very few law breakers escaped detection
and punishment in this town. But times
have changed.
Spca king OF police policy and prudence
gives the Gossiper an opportun ity to pre-
sent letter received by THF NEWS from
q young lady who does not appear to
understand how inconsistent policemen
may be at times.
Zone OF our patriotic young ladies, 7"
she writes, "while out celebrating the
night before the Fourth, found that the
barrel OF her revolver would not turn.
Happening 10 be near an electric light she
stopped 10 sec what was the matter. A
passing policeman kindly offerd to help
her. After he had fixed the weapon he
fired 1t. The young lady and her COM
panion then walked up Westminster
street to Olneyville. Just as she was
about to fire the pistol grun voice from
somew here in an officers uniform.
want to get pulled In Which was
right?'"
Those lanterns over the 5re alarm
boxes In the center OF the city VIII ich are
not lighteo. because some one has blund-
cred are attracting good deal of atten-
tion Just now. Last evening the one on
Dorrance street, near the corner OF
Westminster street, was made the sub
ject OF an amusing dissertation 10y busi-
ness man who took occasion to tell fun
ny story.
He had three or four friends with him
and as the party passed the red painted
bo Of Ia moi m ad N a "A m tar
OH the top that wasn't lighted, and re-
marked that the city ought TO buy a
supply of red handkerchiefs. One of the
friends wanted to know how red hand
kerchiefs would help the city out of its
business man, %pn have to tell You a
storyto explain the matter. Eight or ten
years ago i went on sleig hing party
from Providence. We went up TO Attle-
boro. had supper and then danced
while. Our return trip was without
incident until we got into the town
of Lincoln. There we had to cross'a rail-
road track and when we struck ii the
sleigh stuck fast. The men got out, but
the horses couldn't move the sleigh.
Then the men pushed, but with no bet
ter result. Juss about that time we could
hear the whistle OF q loomotive. We
had fellow named Smith with US, and
tu6 NElellnE Oh the locomotive Dau n
wonderful effect on him. First he asked
the driver of the sleigh IL he had a red
lantern. The driver didn't have one.
Then Smith started among the men OF
our party asking each one in turn IL he
had red handkerchief. Finally he
came TO me. told him did not have
one, and asked what he wanted red
handkerchief for. He turned on me with
q lookof ecorn and said: what do 1
want IL for, you dummy? i want TO SET
fire TO 1t To make red light and stop
that train from running into the slegh.' "
The entire control OF the advertising
agency conducted under the name OF
bennington Brothers at Pittsbur. and
New York has passed into the hands OF
X. X. Remington by the purchase by him
OF his brothers interest in the concern.
X. X. Remington has always been tho
active head of the business and is widely
known. The Remington agency makes a
speciality OF placing advertising In two
classes of papers-a county seat list and
large city dailies. To large advertisers il
Is one of the most faVorably known