The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-03-06
washington, March ID.

To the Editor:
Dear Sir.-Permit me 10 say Washing
ton will fall into line after awhile. II is
greatly needed here. But, you know, We
are rather SLOW. We sd.i run n.4-e ,.....
The curfew will come as a matter Of
self-defense by and by. The large mass Of
children. especially colorcd children. in
our city need it greatly. our police do
not Ike TO undertake too much at once.
They had the enforcement Of a Sunday
law against crying papers on the streets
on Sunday morning recently. II has been
fair success. but they say. "One thing
at a time"
We shall press it here after awhile.
II Is bound 20 come in the interest of
good order. Yours truly.
j. H. BRADFORD.
Cor. Secretary y. and c. HIM. and Emp.
Asso.. 9N NJ street. y. W
So Washington. the city of lawmakers.
Is to have the curfew, At o'clock the
bells are to toll. sending to bed all except
those who must be sleepless guarding the
great nation
HISTORY or THE CURFEW.
The curfew was first known In England
as the couvre-feu. or cover the fire
II was then called the "oover-nre bell.
and II was n signal 10 put out the fires
A bell tolled AZ evening tor the inhabi-
tants 10 pvt ont the fires evt'ng1ish 7h's
and retire to rest. II was instituted in En-
gland by William the ConOueror as an
arbitrary bit Of tyranny. Thompson tells
US
The shivering wretches AZ Curfew sound
Detected sank into their beds.
Previous TO that time. however II was
known in England and on tho continent.
and was rung even as far back as the
n
pleasant summons. cheerfuly oheved II
had been neglected for a long time. until
williams edict rendered II compulsory
in many hundreds towns and villages
IL has continued 10 toll and sfll tolls
either all the year round or from Scntem-
Der to April. from the Isle OF WIGHT IN
the south through Kent. Surrev. Middle
sex Suffolk. Norfolk. Lincoln. York. Dur
ham and Northumberland. and. in short.
all over the kingdom.
When the Pilgrims and Puritans came
over here they brought IL to New En-
gland, where II IS still carried out in many
towns and villages
In 81 there was a popular uprising in
the seaport town of Portsmouth, n. II,
when the most progressive residents
sought 10 abolish the ringing OF the Old
North Church bell at O'Clock every
night.
But II had rung when George Wash
ngton passed the night in the town and
when Daniel Webster was rcadir~ lew
eases In a law office there: and the old
Inhabitants would not let Il be silenced
This old bell has sent generations 70 bed.
In ~ he habit started in the West. at
Saltwater. MINI. and by 1895 twenty
other towns In the State had passed it,
Cities IN Oregon Idaho. Washington.
South Dakota. Kansas Nebraska. Mich
iran. Missouri. Indiana and Georgia have
since adonted IT,
In Minneapolis all under sixteen must
be at home at =. NJ Nine strokes OF
the fire bell are sounded and the penalty
OF dIsobedience Is severe.
In most Western cities the bell IS rung
earlier-frOm 10 S.0f 1T Charufe. Kan
II Is rung az Z o'cock but at Waycross
Ca. II as late as 10 O'Clock before n IS
tolled. The bell al Marrensburg Mo.
peals at 7;3o. giving the children no even
ting at all.
In Topeka y Is FOR children under six
teen. and In Wallace Idaho. for children
under fifteen wears
At Pierce. Kan. a unique addition 70
the curfew makes 1t unlawful for a boy
when spoken 10, to return an uncivll an
swer.
The penalty es general thing wher-
ever the curfew is adopted. follows the
Minneapolis law. Here the curfew rines
NJ . o'cock. and any child found on the
streets efser that time. unacconl oan'ea
by a guardian Will be arrested and taken
20 parents and cautioned Second offense
s. 70 $40 or three 10 ten days in Jail. at
the discretion OF the ma@istrste.
An hour later is allowed 10 the children
IN summer than In winter. and in most
towns executions are made Of messenger
boys, children sent on errands. and news
BOYS.
Mayor Graham. OF Lincoln. says II Is
surely a success. for II surely reduces
6rime. He has decrease Of Is per cent