Fergus County argus., 1901-11-06
"IHt HALLOWEEN NUISANCE"

The observance of Halloween as well
as the resort to charivaring should no
longer be tolerated in any town or city
containing peace officers. There is
nothing that can be said in favor of
either. Like hazing, they are relics of
barbarism and should be relegated to
the past. II the observance of Hallow-
cen could be carried on in harmless
manner without wanton destruction of
property the escapades of those partici-
pating might be overlooked, but this
rarely ever happens. In Lewistown
Thursday night considerable damage
was done to property. In one instance
a new building was tipped over and the
roof injured to such an extent as to re-
quire the services of n carpenter TO make
the repairs. Some boys are devoid of
Judgment as to the limit to which fun
may be carried, while others are ma
liciously inclined. Evidently the cur
few ordinance had no terrors for them
on Thursday night. Treating on this
observance, under the above heading,
the Pioneer Press of last Wednesday
says:
Halloween comes on Thursday night
II has been associated from time i'm
memorial with certain forms of boyish
pranks. The transplantation of its
customs to this country seems to have
had the effect of magnifying the spirit
of mischief which is supposed to seize
the boys on that particular night OF the
year. The result is that instead OF in
dulging in some harmless fun the boys
on Halloween have Of late years broken
loose in all sorts of depredations on
property-wrenching gates off their
hinges, carrying off chairs or other
movables from porches and piazzas,
breaking windows with all sorts of mis-
siles, smearing the doors or walls of
the houses with mud or plastering them
with the contents Of rotten eggs. In
spite of the warnings of the police de-
partment last year these wanton and
injurious depredations on private prop
erty were carried on by roaming bands
of boys in different parts of the city To
the great annoyance, vexation and loss
of many householders. The result is
that thousands of quiet householders in
different parts of the city are dreading
the attacks of mischievous boys on their
premises on Thursday night. We
understand that it is the purpose OF the
police department TO issue a similar
warning this year, and so far as it goe:
this Is a wise precaution. But the po
lice are not numerous enough to cover
the whole city, and something els'
should be done to render the warning
effective. Last year the mayor Of Min
peapolis issued proclamation warning
all boys to keep within doors aftel
nightfall of Halloween under penalty
of arrest-their wandering about th'
streets at these hours being regarded a
furnishing fair ground Of suspicion
that they were bent on mischief Th'
result was that the householders o
Minneapolis were exempt from Hal
lowe'en depredations. A similar proc
lamation in st. Paul on Thursday morn
ing would probably have like effect il
st. Paul. Itwould perhaps be sutlicien
II the mayor should request parents Il
keep their boys at home on Halloween
Every parent who has any pretension
to be good citizen should do this of hi
own motion. They should call off thei
boys, who are otherwise likely to ge
into trouble with the police