The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1898-03-18
CuRFEw FOR WASHINGTON.
Bell to Warn congressman it is Time to
Retire.

Bell to Warn Congressman it is Time to
Retire.
SO Washington, til: city of lawmakers,
Is to have the curfew! At . the bells
are to toll sending 10 bed all except
those who must be sleeplcss guarding
the great nation.
The Curfcw was first known in Eng
land us couvre-fau, or cover the fire"
1t was then called the ''cover-iirc bell, :"
and ii was u signal to put out the
fires
a bell tollcd at evening for the in
habitants to put ont fires, eXtinguish
lights and retire to rest. 1t was institu-
ted in England by William the Con.
quel"r as an arbitrary bit of tyranny
Thompson tctlS us:
The shivering wretches at curfew
sound
Detected sank into their beds.
Previous TO that time, however II was
known i'll England and on the continent
and was runS even rs far back as the
days of King Alfred. But II was chcu
pleasant summons. checrrully obey
ed IL had been neglected for a long
time until Williams cdict rendered il
compulsory TO many hundred towns and
villages.
1t has continued to toll and stil tolls
lrfiher all the year round or from Sen
tcmbcr to April from the Isle OF
Wight in tn south through Kent. Sur
ry Middlesex, Suffolk. Norfolk Lincoln.
YORK, durham and Northumha rland,
and, in short, all over the Kingdom
When ihc Pilgrims and Puritans came
over here thay brought it to New Eng
land, where it is still carried out in
| many towns and villages
IN ~ there was n popular uprising in
| 'he seaport town Of Portsmouth, ~ H.,
| when the most progressive residents
/ sought 10 abolish the ringing of the
| c!d North Church bell at o'clock every
| night
But it had rung when George Wash
! !ns':on passed the night IN toyn ,~r.,1
| wh:ta Daniel Webster was reading Inv
| cas- in a law oilice .,hcrc: and the ,-l1
inhabitants would not let il be silcnc,d
! ms Old bell has sent generations tn
! bed "
In "a the habit started in the West.
at saltwater. Mimi, and by 1895 twenty
other towns in the State had passed It
c!ltics in Oregon, Idaho. Washington.
H H, Dakota, Kansas, Ncbra ska,
Michigan, Missouri. Indiana and Geor
gle nave since adopted it,
In Minneapolis all under sixteen mus,
ne AT nome at p. IN. Nine strokes Of
me hre bel arc sounded and the pen
atty of disohediencc is severe.
III most Western cities the bill l.
rung enrlier--from to $50. At Chan
ute, Kan. 1t is rung at O'Clock. INC
Dell at Warrensburg. Mo, pcals at
10 giving the children no evening, at
all. 80
In Topeka ii is for children under six.
teen and in Wallace. Idaho, for chill
dren under fifteen years.
AT Pierce. Kan, unique addition tc
me curfew makes IL unlawful for a
boy. when spoken to, 10 return an I'M
evil answer.
The penalty as general thing
! wherever the curfcw Is adonted FOL.
lows the Minneapolis law Here tbr
curfew rings at . O'Clock, and any child
found on the street after that time IN.
accompanied by guardian, will be ar.
rested and taken to parents and eau.
| TONED. Second OfIcnse: Fine So il
Slo or three 10 ten days in Jail, at tht
! discretion Of the magistrate
! an hour later IL allowed to the chill.
dren In summer than in winter. and in
most towns exceptions are made OF
messenger boys, children sent on cr.
rands and ncwsboys
Mayor Graham of Lincoln saws il i:
surely success. for it surely reduces
crime. He has had decrease OF 7;
per cent. in arrests since It's adoption
III his city.
Colonel lIoagland, president Of tn,
Boys and Girls National Home anG
Employment Association, predicts tbal
Chicago, ST. Louis, Cincinnati, Phila.
dclphia anu Greater New York Evil
adopt the curfcw at once"