Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-03-28

with the coming OF warm weather Jul
troubles begin to increase, and it is all on
account of small boys remarked vet
eran police officer yesterday afternoon,
land their parents are in position to help
us by instructing their offspring that they
must not indulge in the sport of playing
ball in the streets and gathering with a
crowd of boys on street corners where hey
ali talk at once, much to the annoyance of
people who reside in that vicinity, AMI who
lodge complaints al the station house.
"Oftentimes people who complain to the
police about the behavior of boys On the
streets allow their own sons to play ball
on the streets and congregate with others
on street corners. but they do not care as
long as they are not annoyed by that par
ticular crowd.
Il remember last summer there was a
gentleman who resides on my beat who IS
the father of a couple of boys, and he had
a habit of lodging a kick at the station
house about once or twice a week In regard
to the noisy conduct of boys in his neigh
borhood, and stated that although he had
two sons he did not permit them to annoy
people. The lieutenant detailed me in the
vicinity of that mans home to put an end
to the nuisance and did duty in civilian
attire for several nights, warning the boys
that they would have to dispense with their
ball playing and nightly gatherings on the
corners, but it was all without avail. and
they continued to create as much of dis
turbance as ever, but always managed to
elude me until finally one night l broke in
on the crowd, capturing two boys, who
proved to be sons of the citizen who had
made so many complaints at the station
house. The youngsters were sent to court
the next morning and their father went
down and denied to the judge in a most
positive manner that he had ever made a
complaint to the police but the court de-
cided against the boys and their father had
to pay a fine for each of them"
The idiosyncrasies of people are fire.
quently shown in the manner in which
they sign their names. Hotel registers
contain many peculiarities in signatures
The wife of an army officer recently regis
tered her name at Baltimore hotel with
the addition of the words ed U. s. In
fantry. The local newspaper men were
somewhat mystified over the name as reg
istered. and one of the number jumped to
the conclusion that the lady was a mem
Der of the regular army. He went to the
trouble to investigate the matter and found
that women are not eligible for member
ship in Uncle Sans army, and that in the
case in question the lady had simply fol-
lowed the custom adopted by her husband
in adding to his signature the name of the
regiment to which he belonged just as
some other ladies appropriate their hus-
bands professional titles such as colonel"
captain professor doctor" etc. not
withstanding such action is contrary to the
canons of good taste.
x * x y
Something should be done to restrict
the sale of poisons," detective sergeant
remarked to a Star reporter after the two
recent poisoning cases had been investi-
gated. 1T is easy matter to procure
poison from Washington stores, no matter
for what use the poison is intended. A
person bent on murder or suicide has but
little trouble in purchasing the life taking
material. When a man or woman wants
to commit murder it is an easy matter to
give a fictitious name and address, and
also to state that the poison is wanted for
some legitimate purpose.
In making the rounds of the drug stores
/ was surprised to learn that there are
many poisons which can be sold without
the druggist even being required to record
the name and address of the purchaser.
In many cities" the onIcer said 'pur-
chasers are required to sign their names
when they buy poison and identify them
selves in some manner. but no such precau-
tions are required here. Poisons are used
so frequently now that something ought to
be done in the matter for the protection of
life. As rule, people who commit MUIR
der by using poison would not take life in
any other way They would be afraid to
use weapon of any kind, and with the
proper safeguard thrown about the dis
pensing of posons 1 feel confident that
fewer crimes would be committed. The
sales of poison of all kinds should be linn
tied to drug stores, and they should be
made only to persons who are known to be
reliable or upon prescriptions of physi-
clans.
AT this time of the year" observed a
woman as she adjusted her veil and then
began a leisurely hunt for the elusive car
ticket for which the conductor was looking
expectantly, people living mainly
on fish and thinking principally of their
spring garments. That is to say, of course. u
she FASTENED to add, 1.-THE frivolous portion
OF humanity. There are many people to
whom the Lenten season means in a spir-
itual way, what the ministers say II ought
to mean. and who profit In mind and in
body from the Lenten devotions and aus
terities."
You were saying" rather cold,y re-
sponded her friend. who was evidently not
interested in the depression
What was L going to say?' and she look
ed about her as If possibly the thought