The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-01-14
Rev. Mr. IOmTkns Said Such a Law Would
Save The Children From Temptation
SUPERINTENDENT TARBELrS VIEW.
The Boy Of The Cutter is Smart, but in a Way That
Is Not Desirable, Rs Said Other interest
Ing Remarks Were Made.

notwithstanding the storm there was
the Sarah T.. Doyle club i'm the Mammal
! Training High School hall last evening
To listen TO some interesting addresses
on the subject, "Is the Curfew Law
Desirable?' Rev. William /. Simmons,
one Of the speakers named ON the card,
was much deplored by those present.
| Miss Charlotte Blundell. president OF
the club, presided and introduced as
| first speaker OF the evening, His TX
cellency Governor Dyer, who said that
| he is always ready to lend his voice
and all effort I'm behalf OF the teachers
| If he had to slide every foot of the way
| 10 the hall. He does not know just how
| far the curfew law Is applicable 10 con-
| ditions In this state today, but he will
| do everything in his power to help
bring about the conditions among the
children that shall help them.
Rev. Floyd W.Tompkins was next in
troduced and said substantially: |
would net give much for man or wom-
an who did not care very much about
the children. There is nothing that
marks our civilization so grandly as
value the life Of IL child. as what that
child may be I'm the future. 1t seems To
me that the curfew law must be a ben
eft TO the community. This law designs
that children at an age II To l3 or II
years unaccompanied by parent or
guardian shall not be permitted on the
street after say O'Clock, | would not
have my daughter on the streets alone
at night, my children at the age of II
years should be i'm bed by o'clock. But
IL they are not i'm bed by o'clock they
should not be on the streets at that
hour. Some parents do not know how
to educate their children and IL Is right
that law should be passed making IL
necessary that the children be properly
cared for.
The advantage OF the law is To save
the children from awful temptation. No
worker amongst girls on boys. no work.
er among the sums is ignorant of the
fact that the temptations To young
children are terrific. You can tell by the
appearance of the child when il comes
In the school room in the morning
whether that child has been doing what
is wrong The curfew says that IL is
wrong for the child to be out after
certain hour. because the future de-
mands that the child be strong and ca
pable. This strength and standing of
the child in the future is n responsible
ity of the municipality We have some
of the worst places In Providence L ever
saw in my life, love Providence very
much indeed but there are some awful
places in the tenement districts OF the
city. The curfew does not impose hard
ships comparatively speaking.
DIR. Horace Tarbell, superintendent of
schools, spoke In part as follows: | sup
pose l have covered in thought every
thing for and against the law that can
H.. Il l. a
society the best people should become
leaders and control others. There is a
development in the streets. The gutter
boy is smart. He gets a power which
the better boy, the boy at home does
not have. The seven year boy at home
is not so smart in the elements of the
street as the boy who gains his knowl-
edge from the streets.
The shrcwdness that comes from tho
education of the streets is not desira-
BILE. The child that natures early under
the influence of the street will always
be small We better the homes If we
put the children into the homes God
meant that the old and the young
should grow together. 1t is better to
have the children with the parents. for
the benefit OF the children and for the
benefit of the parents. IL is when we
grow quietly and get the best of what
comes In life that we get the benefits
and we do not get IL when the nights
are spent I'm dissipation. The great
problem Of the 10th century will be
what shah society do TO regulate con-
ditions. The strong shall guide the
weak.
Mayor Henry a.. Thresher of Central
Falls was present and addressed the
gathering. lie said that the matter of
the children and the streets is one OF
the most serious questions before the
public today. He spoke OF music in the
saloons, several cases Of which were
peculiar to the city not long
ago, and OF the contemplation OF
the children TO go into the saloons
under influence OF IT, laws have sub
sequently been made prohibiting music
in saloons, The curfew law wouls
reach the best families as well as the
poorer ones. He has written the may
ors OF a dozen or more cities and finds |
them with ono exception. in favor of |
the law. IL is far better TO prevent
crime than TO cure IL after IL is COM |
mltted.
Rev. Willard :. Selleck made a brief !
but very able discourse In favor OF the |
law. In most western cities the curfew |
law has not been i'm action for n great |
while. my thought has been I'm regard |
TO this law. that u is better 20 let the |
other fellow do the experimenting, for |
the law is now I'm the experimental |
stages. We are already 10 say that the /
real school OF human society Is the |
family. The fun appreciation OF the |
family IL what we want To bring about. |
The education OF the street is "A demor- |
alizing education i'm the main. There !,
are pareFts who have no control over |
their children. Mr.. Selleck can see |
how the law might benefit such but it |
" not the way 10 make boys and girls |
moral 90 ring a bell TO cal. them. The |
duty II 20 make the house attractive. |
We are dealing with results. He de- |
plored the liquor traffic.
Dr David Blaustein Of the Educa- |
tional Alliance ~ New York city spoke /
az some lengths IN the main as fol- \