The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-05-08
Cop Day,

Saturday the police Of this town rode,
marched or wheeled in triumph Their
reception by the crowds was characters
tic Of this thoroughly New York show.
The local knowledge OF this and that
celebrity OF obscurity displayed by the
goodnatured spectators the chatting
shouts Of 'rubberneck!' or bleatings of
the goat at sight Of some inspector or
captain transferred from the center and
oyster Of the Tenderloin 70 the caprine
wilds of Westchester or Staten Island;
the cheers for this favorite and that;
the interest and delight in horse tanning
mounted policemen, a delight and in
terest visible in a smaller way in City
Hall Park every day; the wave Of joy
that mandates when any fine rider
pranoes along; the yell Hurroo for you,
papa" as a medaled man evidently
more than rs appears; the inexhaustible
cheeriness felt and diffused as squad
after squad Of ample patrolmen waddles
along with many young divil roaring
'FRONT.' 'FRONT.'; the drivers in the halted
wagons at the Broadway crossings wait
ing patiently or commenting loosely;
the girls and women, conscious Of whom
each young policeman puts forth man
lier chest and more military port; the
villain who yells as some unknown and
presumably teetotal veteran, red with
the May sun and the fire Of marching
passes, Somebody bring MURPHY a
drinkl"-the parade is a day on and
festival for the seen and the seers; and
it is full Of the utmost kindlinees on the
part Of the latter.
So much has been said and so much
more will be said, while the world and
reform tongues wag, Of the misdeeds
and total depravity Of the New York
police, that this one day which New York
gives to sdmiring them Is always worth
celebrating. Il shows that New York
is wild en- with all their faults. AS a
class they are good fellows; human,
tolerant, especially when the first down
Of appointment has heightened into a
beard; at least as faithful TO their duties
as most Of the rest Of us, always except
ing reformers, who are both born and
made to order and never deviate.
my speciality is being always right,
says Mr.. Bohun in you Never Can Tell
Well, there are at least Nine specialists
Of that sort in this town; and IL cannot
be expected that all the police viii be
specialists. Speaking a. merely anna
teur sociologists, We have found police
men responsive to courteous treatment,
capable Of humor with certain cynical
philosophy and gift Of caustio comment
that are genuine New York. II some OF
them can't be induced TO regard a Sun
day side door az the root Of all evil, they
but reflect the New York temperament.
II some Of them shirk their work or take
too big or frequent q drink, such cpl
oureanism is not unknown 70 more illus
trious members Of the commonwealth.
The policemen take great risks, put
up great fights against great odds,
save lives or lose their own in q matter
Of fact manner. These things are parts
Of their business. You hear much Of
the mean things some Of them do; little
Of the manly and useful things they do.
They are sinners, not miserable, but
comfortable sinners, with good large
hunks Of fidelity and heroism in them.
They are generous. They are much
imposed upon. We don't notice that
the rank and file Of them get rich by the
use in their business Of much the same
methods a. exist In occupations much
more pretentious and remunerative.
Anyhow, we salute the New York
Officer" the plain and sometimes very
homely "cop,' He Is all right substan-
TALLY, save In the view OF the lofty souls
10 nhnr, nr-nrrthinn 10 all rrrnnn