The record. [volume] (St. Maries, Idaho) 1913-1918, 1913-07-01
Telephone No. 1873
TUESDAY. JULY l. 1913
VandaIS Should be
Punished

Our attention has been called to
the little respect that some parties
here have for the property rights OF
others and the little that they care
for the appearance Of the city.
Said a gentleman in speaking about
this matter: "Some people seem to
take a malicious delight In defacing
buildings by marking or writing on
them aud brick buildings, where the
marks can not be easily eiiaoed, seem
to be their particular object of at
tack. Some Of this Is the work of
Olsen, but frequently the walls are
ooolEY with Indecent and vulgar
wrT l.}indicating 1t to be the work
of sol Jne old enough so that he
should know better. Even some
grown up men use the walls Of stores
and other public buildings to figure
upon.
cit Is only thong htlessness with
some and perhaps il their attention
was called to the appearance of the
places thus defaced, they would re-
Train from contributing their mite
But with others it is pure malicious
ness and II caught at the work they
should be punished to the full extent
of the law, and IL ever Hud out any
of the perpetrators / will do my part
towards Furnishing them. "
The gentleman spoke with feeling
and he had good reason TO be provok-
ed and angry. He Is the owner of a
brick block and recently had gone Go
the expense of having the front re-
painted. Scarcely had the paint
time Co dry before some vandal was
out with his knife and trying it's edge
on the wood work, while the side OF
the building .wassoovered with hyro-
s. gllphics aud obscene writings.
But this defaoing Of property is not
confined to buildings Fences, shade
trees, sohrubbery, flowers, all have to
suffer at the hands of these vandals
No sooner does one try to do his share
In adding to the beauty of the city
by improving his own property than
he seems 90 become the special mark
Of this lawless element.
An old fence may have stood around
his lot for years without being dis
turbed, but as soon as a new one is
built or a fresh coat Of paint added,
out comes the ready jack knife.
Shade trees are set out, some Que
wants a switch and takes off limit
and breaking down the whole tree In
the process.
But it lie the flowers aud shrubs
that seem to suffer the worst. Boys
and girls, young men and young
women, all seem to have the idea that
they are grown for their especial hen
eft aud that they are privileged to
pick as many as they want at any
time they want. aud they are not at
all careful 10 plucking them. II they
break down the bush 1t Is all the
same. That the owner has spent time
and money 10 raising the plant and
caring for 1t cuts no figure. The rar
or and more costly the flower the
more apt It is 60 fall a victim.
We do not believe that the guilty
parties are malicious Is a general
rule. In most cases they are only
thoughtless. They see the flower,
want 1t and take IL without thinking
that they fare doing any particular
harm. IL lie only a flower anyway.
II our city is to be as handsome as
it should be each property owner
must do his part by Improving bis
own place aud he cannot be expected
to do this IL some one comes alonl
and defaoes his work as soon as it q.
done and those who are only thought
less should bare this IN mind.
The people are usually patient and
will stand To be imposed upon for q
long time, but after awhile patiencs
ceases TO be a virtue, rs some Of those
who are picking other peoples fow-
ers will learn if they keep It up, al
many Of the owners are becoming
very much exasperated by the oontin-