The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1912-07-11
SITTING UP WITH THE BOOSTERS.

tox-terr!er after frs-truck." remarked the
slogans Swat the NY gets my heartiest ap-
proval 'Choroform the mosquito and you
Will find waving the Bonnie Blue Flag at
the funeral Remove the delicate aroma of the
pig-sty. and will trumpet the fact through
bandsna handkerchief Take all the cows out
side the city limits. and will trust that
ore steals the milk from the front stoop. Most
or these things are already writ down In the
laws and ordinances. and / am for them. Also
am for putting the mutfer on the pesky motor
en- forcing the statutes made and provided
ga inst the reek OF gasoline and the precipita-
ton OF soft coal from screenless chimneys,
but--and the citizen grew serious~--there is
more to health than germs There ia such
thing as nerves. There is such a thing In
somnia. II man can't sleep, he can't eat; If
he can't eat he can't live unless he drinks him
self TO death. While the Health Department is
protecting us from smells and germs and con-
tagtous diseases why can't It protect our rest?
The great thing for Richmond is ordinance
providing for the capital punishment OF roos-
ters,"
| AS a matter of fact, the rooster is more than
a deicacy, he has become problem. City life
is not measured by the sun, and the prevalence
=: electric light has greatly postponed the hour
OF bedtime In the march OF progress how
ever the rooster does not seem to have become
acclimated. Taking his beauty sleep about the
time he shadows become invisible, he stretches
| l. ole har Ak an
observation. thinks OF his yalor. and issues his
challenge. The galnacious gentleman in the
next lot is not to be fouted in any such matter.
With defiant preliminary tapping he accepts
/ the gage OF battle Another bird joins the
chorus. Another and another take UP the
vocal declaration. safe behind their respective
fences. while the sleepy hens nod their admira-
ton
All this happens about the first watch OF the
average mans sleep. If he be nervous man.
it will be sufficient to keep him awake until
the SECOND watch, which is about . A NJ,
After that he only hope to lie tense and
nerve-recked till the grey dawn ushers IN the
roal cock -crov-fest of the day.
Here it comes-faint. like distant bugle
EGdll. growing IN NoiHme, IN FduCOusness III
vndictiyeness. until.-"iap' Zap, hap'''--the
ancient warrior Of the next yard produces a
hullabaloo that promises destruction for all
game cocks from one who could not at a pinch
run a cockerel through a hole in the fence
There is somewhat in the plant OF the red
eyed citizen. Enough noises pertain to the city
without the city's borrowing them OF The coun-
try Let us be content with the occasional hont
OF the belated joy-rlder. with the rumble OF the
owl car with the observations in loud tone
OF voice OF returning voyagers from the city's
ways, We must make choice between bucolic
and urban life In the country, the roosters
are supposed TO usher in the dawn; the many
that dwell fortuitously in the city seem to sit
up all night in their impatience to anticipate il
We suggest to the Health Department that
III either abolish the rooster or require an oper-
alton to remove his palate.