The Caucasian. (Shreveport, La.) 1900-192?, 1907-07-21
KEEP OFF
THE GRASS
THE COURT HOUSE SQUARE IS
NOT A RESORT
foRLOAfERS LOUNGERS
It Is for Women and Children and for
the Self Respecting People Who May
Gather Within Its Limits for Re-
creation and Pleasure.

house square. thursday n1ght Wnen the
police ordered the crowd, including the
loafers and loungers, the men, the wom-
Ell and the cildren, to move on and to
keep off the grass.
This demonstration by the police was
resented by the people as being too radi-
cal in enforcing the keep off the grass
ordinance adopted August 7, 1901, and
which should be repealed Or modified BIZ
the Council At any rate, this ordi-
nance has been construed as silent by
the general acquiescence of the people
who have enjoyed the improvements
and benefits promoted and supplied by
the Civic League for the good of the
masses.
Because the square is public gives no
warrant to loafers and loungers and
questionable characters to gather with
the decent and the self-respectlng ele-
ment and lounge and sleep in the
square
The weary and tired or any one Sc
inclined may sit on the iron benches or
the grass, but no one should be permit
ted to sleep or lounge on the benches OF
the grass.
For several weeks the court house
SQUARE has been the rendezvous ane
sleeping place of undesirable characters
During the day men have loitered ane
slept on the benches and the grass, II
many instances in postures which have
provoked the protests of citizens ant
ladies having membership in the Civil
League.
In the past when such characters con
eregated on the square and became ;
nuisance they were removed quietly b.
the police, operating under the author
ity of Mayor Querbes. The freedom &C
corded this class recently has embold
ened and increased their numbers, who
not satisfied to sleep and lounge abou
the square, had taken possession Q
the best seats in the shady places in tn
square.
1t is not surprising that there was
| request for the abatement of this nuls
ance, but it is unfortunate that the hap
py medium did not suggest itself to tn
/ police. The best efforts in most laud
able enterprise may be brought into ridl
cule and contempt by an irrational an
arbitrary construction of the purpose t
be attained. 1t was not the intention
the Civic League that ladies and CHI
dren should have been directed to NOV
on and off the grass Thursday night
Indeed, it is not possible to praise to
highly the endeayors of the Civ
League. Had it not been for these Ia
dies, the court house square today woul
be as unattractive as it was the year
before they assumed charge and direct
ed the improvements which are appre
ciated by the thousands Of all ages an
Isexes who have enjoyed this opportur
ity for recreation in the open air. It
only 1diF tHdl Tic iduiSS u sh~ ~
League sould be encouraged. 1ndee'
| we should speak of them and their e1
] forts in words of unstinted praise LII
community is indebted to them for th1
possibility of recreation and for tn
open and free musical concert give
i weekly during the summer months.
Il Since the ladies of the Civic Leagu
have assumed charge of the court hous
!. square to them umst be left the contrt
Of the square, and if they SO decree, tn
!. keep off the grass ordinance must
'Iheld in suspense until it is annulled an
. superseded by an ordinance which sha
apply to the court house square INTEL
: gently and conservatively.
Il The intent and the spirit of this ord
, nance is to exclude the playing OF fot
ball and base ball on the ground and
keep persons from cutting and makir
pathways across the square. 1t was n
: aimed at, nor is it intended to kes
!, men. women and children off the gra
| in the enjoyment of fresh air.
{ A SUDDEN DEATH.
Fl After a brief illness William T. Gu
Il T..neJ,X, ,,1uf,f +