The Paducah sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1898-1906, 1902-09-12
KICKING TO SOME PURPOSE.

KICKING TO SOME PURPOSE.
An eastern paper has come out fat.
footed for chronic kicking, when it
is kicking for q purpose, and thinks a
little kicking is good for both the fell
low who kicks and the general public,
and one who constantly complains is
better than the mild hammered fellow
who never has anything to say. 1t
urges every body, however to kick to
some purpose, or not at all.
1t advises citizens to take lively
interest in the government of their
neighborhood and city, and see that
it is as good as 1t can possibly be
made. No one man has right to
regulate the affairs of neighborhood,
but he has as much say as anyone else,
and if he takes no part in the manage
mont of affairs, and every other good
citizen does likewise, such manage
ment will be left to few and they
may be unworthy persons.
Speaking of protesting. it says;
First, be sure of the law on the mat
ter. Never write letter or utter a
public protest until you are sure you
are within your rights as bounded by
the laws Of your state. You will be
amazed at the excellence of your laws
and ordinances and the criminal lax
ness Of their enforcement. And here
is an excellent place to suggest that
women inform themselves on the sub
ject of law, inasmuch as it affects
their own lives. Let them study
municipal law in particular and in
strnct their girls as well as their boys
on the ordinances governing their
own city. Most of the things which
harass and ANNOY you could be done
away with if you only knew how
well you are protected by law. But
not enforced, you say? Well, whose
fault is it but yours? You have in
fiuence. Use it. See to it that deaf
ening noises and foul odors and I'M
healthful practices are stopped"
1t gives little personal advice, as
follows:
But, before you attempt to cast
out the mote from the public eye, re-
feet little for fear the beam OF sell
fishness is in your OVID eye. Are you
maintaining a public nuisance? Do
you practice on your piano before
other people are up and after they
have gone to bed? Is your husband
learning to play the flute? Are
your children allowed to run wild
and whoop and yell, regardless of the
woman who is writing a book in the
apartment above you? Do you keep
dog and does he bark with sheer
dog spirits and the delight of living,
and do you encourage him in it, re-
CARELESS Of the poor spinster within
hearing who hates ours?
Have you built your house out Of
line, so that it cuts of your neigh
boris view? Have you built spite
fencei Do you race your automobile
along public highways frightening
horses and causing accidents to graf
ify your own selfshness? II you do
any of these things you are not good
citizen. If your husband does them,
and you do not try to influence him
to desist, you are not good citizen.
II you are not training your boys and
girls in thoughtfulness and considera.
ton to their neighbors and friends; if
you do not train them to stand up for
their rights and to demand that when
good laws are ensnted they shall be en-.
forced by the weight Of a persevering
public opinion, you are lacking both
as mother and as good citizen; you
are not doing your duty to your
children or to your country or to
yourself. "