The evening times., 1899-01-30
HAVING FUN WITH
VINBLAND'S CURFEW
Jeers Greet the Nine O'clock
Steam Whistle.
Town Marshal Afraid to Capture
Belated Youngsters.
Obeyed, Even IL It Be Necessary
to Call Out Troops.

New York, Jan. 30.-The curfew bell of
Vineland, n. j., is a steam whistle. 1t
blew for the first time at o'clock on Sat
urday night, nine consecutive times. The
curfew law was not observed. Hundreds of
children who ordinarily would have been in
bed at that hour thronged the streets TO
laugh at the whistle They were not ar
rested.
AS the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union mothered the measure, it was con-
sidered most fitting that the curfew whis-
tie should be the steam one used at the wa
Tel works. Moreover Charles Keighley,
whose wife is president of the union owns
the works, and she loaned the whistle for
curfew purposes. a little knot of members
of the union collected around the whistle
and shook hands with each other as the
engineer blew it. The scene is described
as being quite touching
Meanwhile parade was going on, and
the children and townspeople were mas
querading They serenaded the curfew
councilmen with burisque band and then
visited Mrs. Keighley's house and made an
unearthly din in front of it.
Mrs. Keighley threw Goals of fire on their
heads by inviting them in and giving them
lemonade and other temperance refresh
ments. Then she made pretty speech
extolling the purposes OF the curfew law.
The paraders went away delighted with her
charming, graceful manners, but with their
opinions mistaken.
President Adams, of the fire department,
who said that the fire bell should not be
rung for any burned curfew monkey busi
ness" had a guard on hand to stop the
town marshal from breaking into the stee-
pie and using it. 1t was reported that the
marshal enTaged at the suggestion, made
officially, that he should tie a cowbell
round his neck and run through the town
on all fours at 9 p m was going into the
steeple by force and for spite, but he
didn't.
Mr. Adams is also president OF the school
board, and he said that the High School
bell should not be rung for curfew either,
but neglected TO protect the building,
thinking that the marshal would form his
attack on the frehouse Some pupils broke
into the High School and rang the bell by
way of a lark.
The town marshal did not corral any
children. When he went on the street the
youngsters formed ring around him and
danced and sang. but he pretended not 10
see them. The general opinion is that the
law will not be enforced except for test
purposes.
The curfewites are incensed at the dem
onstration, and chide the fuIl-grown citi
zens who instigated it and encouraged the
children to deride so semi sacred body as
the council. Mayor Lord, who did not veto
the ordinance because il was passed unani-
mously. but who, nevertheless, disappToves
of it. is denounced on all sides, both by the
curfewites and the opposition.
The proposition has been made that the
! council be asked to appoint special off,
| cial TO be denominated the kid catcher"
! who shall perform the duties indicated by
! his title. the town marshal having failed
! therein. There Is some talk of impeach-
! ing the latter official for malfeasance in
Office. direct evidence being offered that
children came within grabbing distance
| OF him after p. m. and he did not grab
/ them as the law required.
Some of the council at the start did not
| care much one way or the other about
| the law but they are mad now because
! the anti-curfewers in the demonstration
! paraded lot OF men in comic false faces
| and absurd attire who, they declared, rep
resented the council each man being tag
| ged with councilman's name. The town
fathers are going 10 find out whether they
! have any dignity or whether they haven't,
| and speak wildly OF asking the governor
| to call out troops 10 enforce the curfew
J law
| They are especially indignant at the
! town marshal for his attitude. The keeper
| of the lookup had the place prepared to re-
| ceive a large number of children. There
! were cradles for them to sleep in and
jumping jacks for them to play with. but
no children were caught. Some think that
the town marshal would have been rough
| ly handled had he made any arrests and
| that the paraders would have torn down
| the Jail and released the prisoners.
The announcement that the dog pound
was to be used place of detention for
the youngsters was premature. This place
which is roomy and salubrious and healthi-
ly situated, was only suggested as an over
flow warehouse in case the lookup was too
| crowded