Mexico weekly ledger. (Mexico, Mo.) 1855-1956, 1899-03-30


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at play as noise wouldn't enjoy the
heavenly chorus. The clink OF poker
chips might soothe his soul or the cold
PUNK Of sordid silver simoleon, as
he plunks 1t down in exchange for
bile beans to shatter his dyspeptic
hulk, might start some pleasing vibra-
tions in his apoplectic ear, but Verdi
might as well never have lived, Patti
or Melba been born dumb or the angel
Gabriel quit practicing for that long
promised solo on the heavenly morn,
for all such man as this cares. He
willfully hearkens his ear to something
better, sweeter, purer, more honest,
and calls 1t noise.
The kids annoy you while playing
under the lightf Yes, SO do they me
when 1 sit up late with my stone
bruise, but / amt going to run in the
kids for it. lam going to see doctor
and get my heel cured Let's pass
an ordinance against the big bugs
the light attracts, like we passed
an ordinance against the smoke
from the nre brick works that once
pestered us. DO you remember itS
While We are at this ordinancing bus
mess let's pass an ordinance against
mocking birds singing at night, 80 the
calf out in the barn lot won't be dis
turbed.
Seriously, this thing, il 1t passes, is
It to bS 5nforceif II enforced is it to
be enforced impartially, the only way
Just law can be Justly carried outY
Don't you, who, with good fatherly
eyes, see only good in your children,
forget to remember that boys are for
getful and girls willful and both rest
less under restraint, liable to jump the
pasture bars and go cantering down
through the clover fields of their own
youthful exulerance.
You men who read this, you with
wives and children, when you go
home tonight, lay and think awhile
after your wife's asleep. When you
can hear little breaths coming softly
and slowly through the stiffness from
the trundle bed over in the corner,
reach out your hand, touch her whose
head is lying there on the pillow by
you. Wake her and say, "Wiie, list
en;" and point to the childrens' bed.
You may never have noticed IT be-
fore, but you'n find she is as alert In
& second as you were the last primary
when you hedged on your election
bets. Then tell her gently, dispasa
sionately, just like you talk about IT
with the councilman from your ward,
that there is talk Of passing medie-
val monstrocity through the mu'
nIoipal assembly. She'll want to send
for physician right away, but quiet
her. Tell her the children are all right
NOW. Explain to Eher with that
offhandishness with which yeu sell
hair pins to college girl or criticise
the policy of Admiral Dewey, that
you only meant that the Council wal
going to pass bill to pat children
her children, your children, all chill
dren, under police surveillance wher
their little waywardness or forget
; fnllnes made them neglect to watct
the town clock closely.
Explain to her what Council bill is
that it becomes q law; tell her what |
law is. She don't any more reall!
: know than you really know what
vatican plait Is; explain to her tina
1t is infexible, that ii is remorseless
that 1t applies impartially to every
body. Then, in the darkness Of thI
night, picture to her as near as yol
know how, q police station cell. Poin
. again to the childrens' bed and repea
the ordinance and then listen.
You'll hear more than baby breath
Ings. You'll hear what your wifi
thinks Of a law that may strike her 4
her own home. You'll hear what
J woman thinks of law that doesni
accord with humanity. You'll hea
|, what a mother thinks Of an odlus &C
that places her daughter subject t
police regulations and under polio
eye, like q nymph du pave, what sh
thinks and says Of an ordinance this
: may lock her long legged ganglin
. boy up with lice for chasing Light
: ming bugs after a supposed bell ha
|, probably been rung.
a And you voters, without any wlvt
a and children, but who can look for
: ward to q possibility, you-but, nc
O you'll be too busy trying to find
collar and shirt that won't match I
Il think, and not thinking is what
/; threatening this community now.
}; The whole things q travesty.
/, can't be carried out. l don't beliey
b Mexico has q police officer who
{ afraid Of any criminal living, or wb
II would hesitate q second In placin
's such an individual under arrest, and
Q don't believe, either, there is one {
), them who would arrest q child an
b lock him up while playing or laughin
II or running about just because II
town bell happened to ing before Il
3 little kids legs grew tired or his vel
e ing blood Of life and joy gave on