The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-06
CURFEW FOR WASHINGTON
RELL TO WARN CONGRESSMAN IT Is
TINE TO RETIRE.


The Origin of the CuStOm-HOw II Is
Observed in Various Sections of
the United States.
Washington, March $50 Washington,
the city of lawmakers, is 20 have the cur
few! AT the bells are to toll, sending
to bed all except those who must be sleep
less guarding the great nation.
The curfew was first known in England
as the couvre-feu, or cover the fire." 1t
was then called the 'cover-fire bell" and 1t
was signal to put out the fires.
A bell tolled at evening for the inhabi-
tants to cover fires extinguish lights and
retire to rest. 1t was instituted in Eng
land by William the Conqueror as an arbi-
trary bit of tyranny. Thompson tells u.s.
The shivering wretches at Curfew sound
Detected sank into their beds
Previous 10 that time. however. it was
known in England and on the continent
and was Iung even as far back as the
days of King Alfred But it was then a
pleasant summons. cheerfully obeyed. 1t
had been neglected for a long time. until
Williams edict rendered it compulsory in
many hundred towns and villages.
IL has continued to toll and stll tolls
either all the year round or from Septem-
Der to April, from the Isle of Wight in the
South through Kent, Surrey, Middlesex
Suffolk, Norfolk. Lincoln, York, Durham
and Northumberland, and, in short. all
over the kingdom.
When the Pilgrims and Puritans came
over here they brought it to New England
where it is still carried out in many towns
and villages.
In 80 there was a popular uprising in
the seaport town of Portsmouth. n H..
when the most progressive residents sought
to abolish the ringing of the Old North
Church bell at o'clock every night.
But 1t had rung when George Washing
ton passed the night in the town and when
Daniel Webster was reading law cases in
a law office there; and the old inhabitants
would not let 1t be slenced. This old bell
has sent generations to bed.
In 9f the habit started in the West. at
saltwater, MINI, and by 1895 twenty 9TH
er towns in the state had passed il.
Critics I'm Oregon, Idaho, Washington
South Dakota, Kansas, Nebraska, Michi-
gan, Missouri. Indiana and Georgia have
since adopted it.
In Minneapolis all under sixteen must be
at home at p. m Nine strokes of the
fire bell are sounded and the penalty of dis
obedience is severe.
In most Western cities the bell is rung
earlier-from to $50 At Chanute. Kan
it is rung at o'clock The bell al War
rensburg, Mo-, peals at 1880. giving the
children no evening at all
In Topeka It is for children under six
teen, and in Wallace, Idaho, for children
under fifteen years.
Al Pierce. Kan, a unique addition to the
curfew makes it unlawful for a boy. when
spoken to, to return an uncivn answer
The penalty as general thing, wher-
ever the curfew is adopted, follows the
Minneapolis law. Here the curfew rings at
8 o'clock, and any child found on the
street after that time, unaccompanied by a
guardian, will be arrested and taken to
parents and cautioned. Second offense:
Fine SO to $40, or three to ten days in jaII
at the discretion Of the magistrate.
An hour later Is allowed to the children
in summer than in winter and I'm most
towns exceptions are made of messenger
boys, children sent on errands, and news
boys.
Mayor Graham, of Lincoln. says It Is
surely a success. for il surely reduces
crime. He has had a decrease of IS per
cent In arrests since ats adoption In his
city.
Col Hoagland, president of the Boys
and Girls National Home and Employ
ment Association, predicts that Chicago,
st. Louis Cincinnati, Philadelphia and
Greater New York will adopt the curfew
at once"