The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1910-05-04
What AbbeviIIe Has Not.

Abbevllle has not a law forbidding boys
under 10 years Of age to frequent pool
rooms. We believe in freedom here. No
such laws for us. If a boy is easily led
astray just let him go, who cares? We
will not bind ourselves down with puri-
tanical rules on account OF such sentiment.
The state is not responsible for the boy.
what has the town to do with rearing
children? Let the fathers and mothers
take care of that. If a boy learns how to
smoke cigarettes in the pool room what
difference does it make to the town? If he
ought to be home at work or at study, that
is no affair of the town, let his mamma
look after him.
If the boy loses his politeness and
gentlemanly instincts in the peccant at
mosphere of the pool room who cares? 1t
is his business, not the towns. Whoever
heard tell of an evil thought being express
ed over the pious expanse of a pool table
anyhow? These fellows who make such
laws and talk such rot about pool tables
and pool rooms being unhealthy for the
morals Of the average young American
are Pharisees and Puritans. They have
never enjoyed life themselves and in con-
sequence they do not wish anyone else to
do so.
Who, pray, cares about the time wasted
at pool tables? Why not waste time at
there as anywhere else? If the boy leaves
other duties undone in order to satisfy his
desire for this pleasure what business is it
Of the municipality, it is no guardian, no
godfather.
Oh, you think some parents would be
glad that such a law were enacted in order
to help them in safeguarding their boys,
well don't you think that would be &C
knowledging a great weakness on their
part? No, this municipality does not beat
the Salvation army drum and cymbals, We
are no puriStS.
AS to a boy learning how to drink or
swear or talk the untalkable in such haunts
who believes it. If boy is bad he is bad,
If he is good he is good, and environment
has nothing to do with the matter. Tell
your sun-shine-c olor-in-the-aower story to
the birds, who credits it?
What do you think Of a man, too, who
would not employ a pool room habitue
simply because he was afraid Of the boys
habits? Doesn't it occur to you that such
an one is a copper rivited, brass lined
steel reinforced old fogey?
You lads Of Anderson and S~partanburg
and Greenville and ether places where the
municipality has girded itself with the
apron string-come to Abbeville. You
lads that are not allowed to spend your
time on the streets when deserted by all
except the night Waterman and the bats,
come to Abbeville.
If you glory in making debts for your
parents to pay, here is your chance, here
is your chance, here opportunity stands
ever ready for you. There is not a drop
Of Quaker blood in u veins. You may
come and 60 as you please here and no
n will say you nay. You may spend
your time with the cue, even into the wee
hours Of the morning and every night in
the year if you like. The municipality
will not gainsay you. AS long as you can
walk straight you are your WI man here,
by sunshine, moonshine, or star light, or
black night. We are yours for elbow room
and swing and scope and latitude and in
dependence and immunity, and against
+hrall and tutelage and subsection and the
apron string and the yoke.