The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-22

Like the fat gobbler. stutfing him
self and biding his time. the young
sters are gettng II in the neck. Re-
mindins the police that there will come
day when they can qualify and vote.
they swear vengeance and protest
aga INST the refusal of the authorities
to permit them to kindle few harm
less bonfres. That was before Chlaf
Werner Issued his Statement, Yesterday
evening. But what hurts them most
is the fact that they mus, re-
main behind the school desk and sweat
and swear until noon OF Christmas eve.
This order OF the school board means
that 1000 or more boys Will wake up
Tuesday morning with horrible pain
somewhere. But the pain will fade
with the elm ng of the sun, and long
before noon the kids will swarm tn.
streets or go out quietly to hook the
barrels. And the greatest comfor,
comes from the thought that the One
John. once hot sport In, his youth. is
tie friend OF the small people. and is
willing to deal gently with them on
this festive occasion.
Not Much Consolation.
None OF the youngsters had worried
about the.curfew law, so they will not
have the dull pain softened by the
news that II Was chopped in tho heal
What they want is to get away
from school on Monday, if they are
forced to trek there then, and have
the privilege of sending streaks nj
red fire toward the Christmas sky.
the hero of the young American OF
knew his b. lness. Watching a game
of ball one day. he saw funeral pro-
cessior move along and follow a
snail's pace through the left field Of
the diamond. iii there, YOU funeral
shouted the cop; get out the way and
let these boys play ball"
Since which lime the youngster has
had feeling in his heart for the
copper of the stage. But he hates the
local product, With its .'scat, you bon
fire" edicts.
There is no doubt about the fact
that the boys are out for the barrels.
They beg, borrow and steal them.
Some body has suggested that the only
way TO stop this practice Is to send
to jai! the man whose barrels are
stolen. But there Is no man with
nerve keyed UP to the point where he
would put ,hslcarfew shackles on the
Kids. ;. :.
Tough Boy, Speaks Out.
law. cheese it," said r.ll tough
Kid .sWot tell do / care fer de law?
Desc old gazabos In blue rogs an but
tons can't stop US wild any clubs"
DE Mayor an de Chief? Say. wot
youse tink OF dat? Honest. de whole
two both o dem don't look loike one
statesman. Why just TO show EN-
eomet'iag, II! just go around and swipe
their barrels. Wot tell do we care for
de law al dis torae?"
More gentlamaniy little fellows ex-
pressed the same view in more polite
and polished language; but when 1t
comes 10 bonhres and the like. the
tough kid and the pampered pet of
the drawing-room are cards from the
same deck.
Seriously, however. there are thou
sands Of good citizens who take the
toys' end They believe the school
rules are too rigid; they see no harm
ir this police crusade. which will not
amount 10 much. And even the little
girls Turn to Verse TO remind their
older friends that they would have had
holiday yesterday had Major Capers
teen alive, In this they gave expires.
'icn 70 the finest tribute YET paid to a
,oble man.
From Boy.
TWO communications came to The
Times Dispatch yesterday from the
children. a boy sent the following
headlines and all:
NO bontires
mo Christmas this year.
Last Wednesday an edict was print,