Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-08-21
Misfits, or Round Mon in Square
Holes.
Norfolk. Va Aug. 20. 1900.
tor NirSinian- Eliot:

Norfolk. Va, Aug. 20. 1900.
Editor Virsinian-Pilot:
f!eaSc allow me 10 reply. briefly. TO
FRO Bono Publico's amazing com,nuul.
eaton III Your issue of Thursday.
IN the question at issue could not
~sN d better witness than my critic.
test: '>'~'N 81
First. The track was made by the
genial and bisheartcd Keeper OF the
ivy Park. of his own volition TO en-
nance the pleasure OF the people visit
ms the park.
Second. The ladies and gentlemen
VISITING the park on wheels appreciated
me track exceedingly. and said all
SORTS oil pleasant things about The parl.
Keeper for his thouehtfulness. and the
noyS and girls We're i'll high glee as
they sailed around the track and
watched the setting sun go down.
inird. But now the scene is changed:
u transformation occurs, and presto u
disgusting crowd OF negroes and whites
hdfr POSSESSION or tins fairy dream and
convert the wheeling circle into n race
track and, 10! The inferno has opened
its gates; and this is what Dante
might have heard or seen: vulgarity of
the West kind; profanity, which would
make the devil blush; the orderly peo-
pie. for whom the track was made.
vanished, except during moments OF
quiet in the day, end The mob had fra
pCSSCSSi0n.'
II this condition of affairs does not
cail-nay. demand-a new keeper of the
park, have absolutely no conception
of the fitness of things. a more pitia-
BILE. shameful confession OF gross in
competence and utter ineiiiciency was
never made. Placed in charge of the
city Park, SiVn fun police powers, and
SUPPORTED by public sentiment. there
was absolutely no reason for allowing
nc mob To tGko fWl possession and drive
away the ladies and gentlemen. the
boys and girls. who appreciated the
track exceedingly" ''and said all sorts
of pleasant things" about the park
keeper.
The park is for the use and pleasure
of the public, and the track drew
larger crowds of people Orders and
spoctatorsl than any other one attrac-
ton In the park. The fact remains
that the greatest attraction at the
park has been unnecessarily DESTROYED.
and that is vandalism.
Ii Publico has any authority or in
nucnce ut the park. he should be re-
moved at once. before some one begins
to pluck the flowers and he (obivious
of the fact that flowers are grown un-
molestcd in every public park on earth)
weakly decides that he cannot prevent
such vandalism, and plows up the
flowers.
I am no policeman: I know nothing
about handling crowds or maintaining
order; l am II mechanic, and master of
my trade. In twenty years mingling
with men who are expected to control
conditions and accomplish results.
have learned to recognize the symp-
toms of incompetence. and / appeal 10
any competent man in practical affairs
If there existed any real difficulty in
enforcing any regulations necessary to
preserve that track for the use mot
abuse) of the public?
AS Publico seems to think that I am
fighting under cover. l will sign my
name. If he replies lie can remain I'M
der cover, or come into the open. as he
sees tit. FRED. w. BULL.
Once in = while the New York sun
transgresses the hest code OF ethics,
and it's partisan nature gets the better
Of 1t. Such was its characterization
recently of Webster Davis as rene
gade," TRAITOR" ana other such things.