New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-09-01
YOTNG RTFFTANS IN TIE STREETS.

no W. H'TTifNp f.' nm 80
The London papers have n SILLY season" topic
of more than ordinary interest and practicnlity.
II Is found IT. the plague OF Juvenile rnilianlsm
with which the streets Of the city are cursed.
The sums Of the East End always have their
hoodluns But now more or less organized
bands Of young rowdies infest all parts OF the
city. committing innumerablo petty misdpmPnn-
ors against the peace and against persons ana
property and not infrcquently adding thereto n
serious crime. The majority OF these are lads
who should he IN school, but who succeed In
cvading the school inspectors and the truant
officers No less than thirty seven thousand
Esbiiual truants are reported TO exist, and
many If not most Of these are inclined toward
ways Of violence and vice. 1t Is recognized that
he s,tua lion is really serious one, demanding
the attention and vigorous action Of the local
authorities. # not os Parliament Itself.
London is not alone in suffering from this
evil. The city that Is next to her In size can
probably run her n close second in hoodlumism
on the streets. Here. too, ms there. the plague
il widely II not universally dffused. on al
most every street NJ this time Of year. In after
noon and evening, groups OF boys and young
men are 10 b. found. sometimes stationary Mt
corners or other convenient places, sometimes
strong along the highway. always intent on
annoying pnsscrs-by and on making themselves
as generally offensive rs possible Usually the
victim Is helpless. a man hailed with insult by
n gang of four ur five young rufians cannot
hope to chas'lse them. for he cannot catch
them. II Is worse than Idle 10 demonstrate, for
that only provokcs furthC and worse insult.
Appeal 10 the police is futile for the patrolman
is always nj the other end Of the beat; before
he could be found the gang would vanish, and
when found no would probably decline 10 do
anything unless 10 stroll nzily in the direction
Indicated 10 soc the fun tho boys were having
In batting some new victim. A woman thus a..
smiled and women often are assaulted by these
Young villains do nothing but close her
ears. avert her eyes and hurry 10 A place Of
safety.
In Itself II IS n most dctcstable state Of az
fairs Rut II "a something more and worse.
These young hoodlums NJ to-day will be the
thieves and murderers Of omorrow. They
may not all thus go from bad to worse but
many Of them will. md the tendency OF all to
do so will be very strong. Between giving n
foul word and giving n foul blow tho difference
is not great. The hoy who does not respect an
Others right TO pcnccabIe possession OF the high
way will ns n man not respect ano'hcr's right
10 possession OF his watch or purse. Tho prog
rcss from mIsdcmennor 10 crime is logical and
natural This Is the consideration which makes
the suppression Of Juvenile rutlanism n matter
of so great and urgent importance. To have
men and women subjected daily to insult and
abuse through sheer wanton depravity is bad
enough To permit through Indifference the
training up OF whole tribe Of professional Grim.
inals is so much worse MS TO defy characterize.
ton.