Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1905-05-25
The Observer.

iOn1 for the benefit OF parules anu III
diyiduals making use OF the PARK
The Observer thought at the time the
piano was placed there that some pro-
vision should be made for its protec-
tion against the weather and possible
depredators, but it appears that during
the late long winter the piano was lett
without anyother shelter than the roof
of the open structure and with no
guard whatever against mlscmeVous
persons. The inevitable consequences
have occurred as any one may see lor
himself by a visit to the pavilion. The
instrument was not valuable one TO
begin with, but for the purposes for
which it was intended it answered
quite as we'll as a high priced new
piano would have done, and the loss of
it means the loss of all that any piano
conld stand for in the social enjoy
ments which center in the park. 1t ID
not lightly to be assumed that another
instrument will be placed there every
time one has been destroyed. The
practical loss of the present instrument
is therefore sufficiently serious to call
for word or two of comment.
The exposure of the piano to every
mischance of weather and to every
chance of vandalism was either lnten-
tional or it was not. If it was not in
territorial, it was evidence of great
negligence and indifference on the
part of the park management. In this
case those who had SO little concern
for the piano as to leave it all winter
long utterly exposed have no reason
to complain if certain other parties
proceeded to demonstrate in practl-
cal way that their concern for the
piano was as slight as that shown by
the park management.
If the exposure of the piano was in
territorial it could only have been for
the purpose of testing the sense OF
honor and responsibility of every
young man and boy, who might chance
to visit the pavilion. Assuming that
such was the purpose, the Observer is
ready to concede that it was we'll
meant but he is nevertheless persuad-
ed that it was wrong and needless
experiment to make 1t was wrong,
for the reason that no one has moral
right to throw in the way of others a
special opportunity for wrong doing
even though it be for the purpose OF
finding out how they will behave
under the test. Life is too full Of un.
avoidable temptations for any one to
be justified in deliberately adding to
the number The spirit of the Lords
Prayer will make us careful not to lead
others into temptation. The expert.
ment was needless, for reason that the
actual result could have been foretold
with almost mathematical certainty
Given certain conditions, certain re
suits are quite likely to follow. The
experiment of dropping d lighted
match into keg of gunpowder has
been tried often enough inadvertently
to render any deliberate experiments
of that kind superfluous. Moreover
if the piano experiment was to have
any value, it was necessary that every
one should receive the impres
sion that the park management wa'
anxious to preserve and protect the
instrument and was asking the co
operation Of all towards that end. Oi
the face of the situation, however, i
seemed that the management caret
nothing what became of the piano, ant
consequently those who injured it die
SO under the impression thaa it wa
not of value to anybody. The expert
ment, therefore, defeated its own pur
pose. If one wishes Others to co
operate with him towards any worthy
end, he must himself show by ever,
outward and visible sign that he him
self is heartily interested in that end
If the park management desires tn
full cooperation of the public in pro
tecting the park and all the propert.
thereof from injury, it must itself snoy
by every outward and visible sigh tina
it has that end in view, and not pu
out such an outward and visible sigl
as would lead many to suppose that
does not care what becomes of tn
park property.
The Observer has the fullest conf
dence in the good and earnest inten
tions of the park management. Th
interest which it represents is the in
terest of the entire community, ant
the entire community, Old and young
should feel a responsibility for, an,
take pride in, the improvement ant
safe-keeping of the park. But tn
park management must take the Leaf
in this, and no doubt means to do SO
The Observer, however, respectful.
ventures to say that leaving Il piano il
a situation that amounts to an invita-