The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-07-12
WHERE PATERNAL1sM BLOOMS.

The indivdualism of the American
revOlts at the efforts Of the sentimental
list to coddle him, nurse, guide, shelter
and baby him. When the latter gets
control of the legislative machinery
and DEGREES abstinence from drink he
even if he adopt devious methods to
obtain the means. If legislation or or
1inance bar the youngster from indul-
gence in the cigarette, he manages to
get it somehow, and puffs the smoke
only the more vigorously in the very
ia ;e of the statute in such case made
and provided. Tell him that he must
be within the precincts of the home
when the curfew bell rings the hour of
nine, and home becomes intolerable,
and to breathe the fresh outer air
an absolute necessity of his existence.
An interesting study along this line
Is the mass of restrictive and regulat
Ing laws of states and ordinances that
slumber in their calf bindings as in
nOcuous as Egyptian mummies, ignor-
ed forgotten.
If paternalism is fruitless of effect
here, save where some selfish interest
finds profit in making it effective, it
blooms in those foreign countries where
the paternal conception of government
still retains more or less of it's vigor.
One gets an interesting glimpse of it in
It's full blossom from letter from Mu-
mich in the New York Evening Post,
narrating the experience of an Ameri-
can cyclist with the ordinances Of that
city and the guardians of order who
enforce them. One wonders what would
be the result of similar rules and
their attempted enforcement in any
city of the United States. When our
Wheelman arrived and unpacked and
set up his wheel in that ancient city
of the Teutons, experienced Americans
forthwith warned him that he must
study the regulations if he would avoid
acquaintance with the police and the
courts. He learned that he must carry
front on the handle bar the other pen
dant from the seat, where a police
man might easily see them. These
numbers were given each wheelman
at police headquarters, where each
rider must be recorded, giving name.
age, birthplace, residence and profess
sion. A card later summons the appli-
cant to appear and demonstrate to the
satisfaction of the authorities that he
or she can manage the wheel with
safety to others. No boy or girl under
thirteen years of age can ride in the
streets, and between that age and
eighteen papa or mama must file their
consent to the riding.
Each graduate from the police in
spection receives a book containing the
regulations, which must be carried
whenever riding and exhibited to any
policeman on demand. It's absence is
followed with arrest and fine. Covering
up the numbers or lending them is Wis
lied with a fine; the right side of the
street must be kept and the bell rung
within ten meters of a crossing. Six
miles an hour is the limit of speed
and fancy riding and racing are prohip-
tied. If you chance to meet the royal
carriage with the prince regent in it,
you must stop and dismount, but as
to other members of the royal family
you are only prohibited from riding
alongside or in front of their car
riage. Then there is a whole page
given up to the names of the streets
where one cannot ride, and others
where it is permitted before in the
morning and after at night, some be-
cause of the royalty that dwells along
them. others because of the congested
travel on them. Add the requirement
of bell, brake and lamp and the liabil-
ity to fine and imprisonment for injury
to persons or property, and you have
paternal care at it's best. And the po-
lice vigorously enforce the rules. We