Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-09-13
Pistols AZ PIaythIngs.

Pistols AZ PIaythIngs.
Today's Journal reports two distress
ingly fatal accidents from playing with
firearms Both were accidents-both the
homicides were grieved beyond measure,
but nevertheless both were careless in the
extreme and greatly to be blamed for this
careless handling of deadly weapons
Hon A. II. Stephens was emphatic in
| the opinion that parents were greatly TO
| be censured for allowing young children
TO use toy pistols, toy cannons, and any
thing that resembled a deadly weapon in
toy shape.
/ remember once at a Christmas season,
purchased a little toy pistol with paper
waters for ammunition. When the tiny
little wafer exploded under the pistol
hammer 1t made noise like striking a
match, and I was assured the thing was
absolutely safe as a plaything for 1T
tie boy less than eight years Of age.
With my Santa Claus gifts in my arms,
I called at Mr.. Stephens parlor to pay
my respects to the aged statesman Gas 1t
was my daily custom) and 1 asked per-
mission to leave my bundles until the lit
| tie boy was asleep and / could safely NIL
his stocking without his knowing more
about the mater until Christmas morn
/ ing.
Said Mr.. Stephens: "show me your pur-
chases. always enjoy the delights Oh
children"
Everything met his approval save the
| toy pistol. He grew earnestly serious
over It and begged me not to give It to
| the child. He declared the use OF toy
weapons 70 be unhealthy for young
boys mind because it familiarized the
child with something which he should De
warned against and ought to be dreaded
| until a person reached years OF discre-
ton II not until maturity.
He believed our people had erred In fos-
terlng a fondness for firearms, as play
things. IL created a habit OF careless
handling and indifference to danger.
II a child was encouraged to believe
that pistols and guns were free to them
as toys Il would be natural to handle
the real thing carelessly whenever oppor-
! tunity offered.
He warmed up 20 the subject until
begun to suspect that / appeared to be
an Indifferent II not an ignorant person
to select gifts suitable for childhood.
Our table waiter (who by the way,
claimed to be IN direct line OF succession
1 from the General Lee servants hall. In
/ Virginial, had a little boy. who fell heir
10 another little boys worn shoes ana
i Jackets was made very happy the same
/ evening at the teatable when handed
i over another Santa Claus bundle Tor the
faithful servant man TO carry home to his
own little folks and the toy pistol and
4 paper. w. ~~~~~-a
/ inside.
IfI had been closely questioned might
have found II difficult to answer why i
/ did not put the toy pistol In the crate.
i But so II was and the sermon that MT.
/ stephens preached to me on that occas-
ion am now exhorting the readers OF
L The Journal to digest, in view OF the ter
rife fatality which follows the use OF
deadly weapons as playthings.
Il Nobody Is safe when little boys or girls
are permitted TO hing around with loaded
pistols or parIor rifles. The venturesome
/ youngsters are quite as apt to Kill some
body else as their own fool selves, and II
| Is a pitiful sight to look upon; when rel
/ alive or playmate is thus killed by such
uncalled for handling of deadly weapons
by irresponsible children.
i And the most OF US are prone to leav-
ing loaded firearms where enterprising
youngsters can put hands on them on the
i sly.
Experience is the only teacher to which
/ we may be trusted TO listen in nine cases
l out OF ten.
There seems to be an itching palm when
| nice looking pistols OF rifles are lying
L about and around Boys and even girls
viii finger the forbidden things in spite
Of warning or entreaty in the majority
i of instances.
The greatest wonder is that so many
peopIe ESCAPE a violent death when load
/ ed weapons are so plentiful in public and
private life.
Hin pocket firearms are almost univer-
i sal in everyday usage, and nearly every
i dude. white OF colored, is owner OF some
sort OF deadly weapon.
A dog and a gun or pistol seems TO De
4 summum bonum In the estimation OF the
inhabitants of the state.
A dog Is worth something Of course
Il as a protection to farm yards and gun
or pistol Is assuredly valuable In mad dog
Il neighborhoods. but there are thousand
| other things in everyday life that are a
/ thousand times more desirable and help
/ full to the average household. neverthe-
Il less a boyis taught TO believe that shoot
ing irons come next to knee pants or
Il shirt with a skirt to 1t.
4 Long before the chap has shielded his
baby teeth he must play at killing some
thing or somebody.
Perhaps the human race Is pugnacious
by nature, inclines to fighting in play and
| in earnest. yet the question viii arise. lis
this shooting habit good for the mind or
| body7"
| BY reason OF environment or heredity
the fife and drum runs the most of us
| wild with excitement. and military band
/ Is delightful to all conditions, sexes and
/ caIlings in society, The greatest orator
| in Georgia can't speak against the mill
| tary parade in keeping a crowd.
But the exhilaration which attends mill
i tary music is emphatically different from
Il a craze or fad for shooting or handling
weapons which are used to destroy life.
Maybe we have been feeding an I'M
healthy taste or appetite with firearms
Ignorantly. II is subject worth looking
into surely. The accidents from firearms
are so frequent that / am uneasy to see
| people handle guns, either loaded or
I empty.
OWEN DOUGH.
| Mrs Felton--May I tell the readers OF