Evening journal., 1898-02-16
BREAK UP THE LOAFERs.

gence and mental capacity, and the ex-
cellent education which mcney and the
school appliances of to-day afford, and
who persists in being a well-dressed
loafer, is one Of the most miserable
and contemplate creatures on Gods
green foot-stool.
He is of no use to himself; burden
and disgrace to his father and mother;
a reflection upon the respectability of
al his connections, and a menacing
example to the youth Of the entire COM
r-unity.
Wilmington is full of young loafers
OF this most dangerous type. If their
faculties and energies were properly
applied they could operate the largest
manufacturing plant in the city; but
those faculties and energies are either
misdirected or permitted TO languish,
and hence become a curse instead Of a
blessing upon the community.
These loafers frequent what are the
most public and what should be the
most respectable places. They dress
While disgracing themselves and their
families by their indecent actions,
they seek to hide behind a respecta-
bility which may be possessed by their
families, but regard for which they
have in nowlse inherited. In fact, It
is difficult to determine whether that
family responsibility or the public 10
most insulted by the presence Of these
loafers on the street.
The vilest tough on the coast is not
nearly 50 great a public menace as the
weN-dressed loafer on the principal
street Of our town. Boys who are grow
ing into manhood do not desire to
emulate the tough either in appear
ance or conduct But when they see
young men, weH-dressed, and gay in
their demeanor, loafing from one years
end to the other, and apparently en-
toylng the good things of life without
any effort on their part to obtain them,
It is a tempting example which is too
likely to be emulated.
The tough on the coast may get
drunk and engage in brawl on the
street at infrequent intervals; but he is
exceedingly chary in this, knowing, as
he does, that when the strong hand OF
the law closes down upon him there
will be no powerful family influence
brought to bear to relieve him. no
influential friends to stand between
him to see that the quality of mercy
is strained to the utmost to save him
from the disgrace of fine and imprison-
ment. IL may be that the tough never
enjoyed the beneficent advantages oi
that pure and wholesome social atmos-
phere which pervades the well-regu.
lated home. II may be that he was
raised in the slums and amid squa,oi
and filth, and ruinous influences, anC
never had any monitor but the blue
coated conservator Of the peace. Blu
such considerations will not avail hin
II he transgresses the law. He mus
suffer the penalty, and suffer it h,
does.
But the well-dressed loafer, who hai
a pleasant and oftimes luxuriou
home, will do things much more con
temptlb,e than will the tough on tn
coast, and presume upon the re
spectability OF his family 3
shield him in his wrong do
ing. The police are supposed to kee
hands off because he is the son Of such
and-such a man, whose social an
business standing must not be i'm
paired, no matter what contemptihl
actions his lazy and worthless son ma
be guilty of. He is to be permitted {
lounge on our most public thorough
fares; to smile and sneer at passers
by; to ogle respectable young wome
and enforce his insulting attention
upon them; to make gray hairs an
faltering steps the subject of ribal
jest; to handy some virtuous girl
name from lip to lip until 1t is dral
ged through the slime Of slai
der and becomes "a hous
hold word in community
which it is deserving OF respect. 7
stand there day after day with nothil
better to do, and wanting nothing be
ter TO do, while his father, al
mother, and sisters are in many /
stances struggling to obtain food al
clothing to meet the demands OF th,
spoiled and petted loafer.
There are places on Market sire
where 1t is not only unpleasant. b
absolutely dangerous for respectful
women to pass. They never KIN,
what they will encounter. II may
merely TO run the gauntlet OF stares
well-dressed loafers OF to have tn
ears assailed with insolent OF ev
indecent remarks.
The influence OF fathers and moth,
who own such sons should not be p
mitted to stand between them and ,
law. Every citizen OF the city sho,
support the police in their endeav,
10 break UP these loafers and to ma
the principal thOroughfare OF the c
safe and pleasant AT all times 7