Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1903-07-10
Need ofCurfew Ordinance.

"Curfer shall not ring tonight" Thus
reads the line of the song. "Curfew
shall ring tonight" Thus reads the
police regulations in some towns and
cities: and a wiser one was never pro-
mulgated by the town or city fathers.
says the Essex County Herald. Adj
hitting that there should be no occasion
for such a law, (and there would be none
if parents took that interest in their
BOYS and girls welfare that they should,
we are forced to the painful conclusion
that such law should he made to apply
to all towns, and should be enforced
What pitiable spectacle to stand on
street corner, or sit in the parks at late
hours. and see the boys and girls come
and go. pass and repass, in groups, IN
pairs, or alone, aimless, except Tor
good time; and although they may
not know it. most Of them are walking
dangerous paths. and on a down hill
course The best place for boys and
girls in the evening time is at home, and
surely after 9 O'Clock the home Is the
best place on earth if they have homes
wherein sobriety and love and happiness
dwell. If they have not such, then let
/ the public take them to its heart, ana
keep them from the streets. They are
the plants in the great nursery OF the
republic After the culture Of years,
they become the fathers and mothers OF
another generation The quality of that
harvest will largely depend upon the
kind of training which we give our boys
and girls of today. If they are trained
to every quality Of purity and honor now
we need not fear for the nation IN the
hands Of our descendants two genera
tions removed. With few exceptions,
the longer we keep our children at home,
and young. the better for lis and them.
The present condition forces a definite
inquiry, "Why do boys and girls prefer
the street to the home during the even
ing hours They must have pleasant
and congenial surroundings. Are too
many of our homes cold and cherries:
Is there little of the light of companion
ship: Are the children sick at heart
because father is at the club room, or the
store. or worse still. the saloon: OF de
cause mother is at the neighbours playing
whist: Do we as parents do all we can
to make our children happy and con
tented in the home: We certainly can
not do too much for them III ways tt
give life the charm of ever recurring
sunshine and hope. Oh. too often par
ents fail to fully understand what child
rem are destined for. They selfishly
blind themselves to sure requirements OF
nature. If curfew law is necessity
it is the fault of the parents and not the
children. Better than the law referred
to would be regulation of every home
that, unless necessary business or i'm
portant matters commanded otherwise
children and parents should make the
evening hours at home indeed blessed
seasons of pleasurable companionship
helpful instruction, and joyous amuse
ments During the day the children arr
at school, the fathers and older brother
= are in the shop or store, or i'll the fields
the mothers are busy about their house
; hold duties; but the evening hour
should be that portion of the day il
: which filia love and confidence SHOULD
e. develop and intensity, because of tn
beauty and music and light of the HON
fireside circle
The curfew law is an indictmen
against parents and we should have
+ apply to them also, and be strictly Ell
e forced. Fathers and mothers, try it fo
. a time; stay at home evenings and fol
1 get your headaches, throw away you
5 daily papers and be children with tn
e boys and girls, and let them find tn
i home to be a veritable paradise in con
: parison with the street.
!