The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-23

most adept in the crime. Men either
by reason of their Wariness, or the fear
of detection are seldom discovered in
the act of shOpliftng. Possibly one
reason of their greater rectitude in this
line of thievery is that large capes are
not generally worn as portion of
masculine garb. When they do at
tempt to disappear with goods, it is
shoes which seem to be their special
weakness, and this is where the mas
culine intellect shows up to its vagaries
with particular effect. A woman even
with a very expansive golf cape is
rather cautious about trying TO conceal
such bulging and knobby parcel as {.
pair of shoes.
The other day shopper saw another
standing near slip a small gilt picture
frame under her cape. The first wo-
man was shocked and showed it in her
face, which was evident as the second
suddenly looked up and realized that
Sc had been detected. She hurriedly
put the article back on the counter as
the clerk walked away to get change.
In low tone she said defantly, II
didn't take it. If you tell her did, I'll
say that you took one too, and then
put it back" The first shopper was
almost speechless with amazed indig-
nation as she answered, "YOu wouldn't
dare. They know me here. Iva
great notion to expose you just be-
cause of your threat" They know
| me, too" replied the other one quietly"
and they wouldn't believe you any
sooner. I never did such a thing be-
fore" she added. Il never would have
thought of doing such a thing if l
hadn't seen another woman stand right
here a little while ago and take two
of them right under the eyes of the
clerk. I don't know what made me try
to see if l could do the same. l don't
want the frame I'm going home"
| and she turned away with tears drop
| ping on her veil. The first woman who
| in her righteous wrath had been un-
| dergoing a remarkable series of sensa-
tions hurried aside hastily and almost
| forgot to take her change as she went
| out saying half aloud, How can we
| tell what We are capable of doing"
The question O. meum and teum is
one that is peculiarly observed accord
! ing to our training, our hcrclity, our
force of will and many other charac-
tcristics The child who is brought up
40 recognize individual rights who has
never been allowed to even for a day
! wear an article of apparel belonging
to his brother, who has never cOnsid-
! cred even the playthings of the two as
/ to be held in common, who has never
been permitted to borrow from 9TH
/ ers, will not develop into a shOplfter
! unless because of some phenomenal
| moral twist. The child who is trained
| athome to never reada letter addressed
to some one else, whether sealed or
not to never take surreptitious peeps OF
curiosity into the desk or bureau
drawers of other members of the
family, in short to strictly recognize
the difference between 'mine and
thine" is not the one who will in after
, years grow careless on these points.
The child the woman, the man who
becomes shoplifter is usually the re-
suit Of lax or perniCious home train
ing, no matter what the station in life
may be.
And so It is Chrstmastime, AMI
everybody ought to be happy. ! wish
all the world could be. There is the
! nome Wnelt last year no vacant tHblT
sat against the wall at the holiday
feast There is the home where r
nameless dread worse than death sits
at the side OF every member of the
family. You see the nervous start at
a sudden ring at the door, and almost
feel the heart throbs as messenger
seems to linger at the gate.
There Is the lonely one who last year
had home AID a merry family party
this Christmas the day is dreaded,
because there is no place to which the
wandering feet turn, so far and fast
has the separation wrought its work,
There is the fair little maid. whose
youthtime and beauty and grace are
swiftly passing, while she tolls on ~
life of self-sacrifce, unblessed by the
Joys which are the right Of girlho0d
There is the lonely boy, far from every
one who cares whether he live or die
whether ne he merry or sad. There Is
the sunry. pleasant living room where
on the wall hangs can with a bullet
hole above the bent visor. There is nc
grave even in the family plot where
loving hands can place a Christmas