New Britain herald., 1923-04-07
1.-THE OBSERVER-
Makes Random Observations
 On the City and Its People

constables in outlying districts where hooks abound are polishing ur their badges and from now on will be on the qui vive for automobile
 "spooning" parties" Although few
 of them read poetry, they are well
 aware that in the spring the young
 mans fancy turns to thoughts of love
 and they are going to "ketch" any
 ''spooners'' who happen to tarry or
 their beats.
 Before the automobile became pop
 ular, country constables had very
 little work to do. They frequented the crossroads store and told their
 bucolic audiences how they would act
 if they ever met up with real des-
 perado. From battling with im-
 aginary bad men," they have turned their attention to "spooners" who
 may be found in leafy lanes after the
 shades of evening have been drawn
 and the noises of the day are stilled.
 "Ketchin' spooners" has developed
 into commercial enterprise. In
 many small towns the constables get 1 fees for their arrests and it is sus-
 pected that some of them are over
 zcalous in "enforcin' the law" so that
 they may be able to hibernate when cold weather comes again without the question of finances to annoy them. In western Massachusetts towns. of- ficials have decided to wage war against "spooners" According to the pictures drawn by the newspaper cor respondents in that section. the roads are so clogged summer evenings that a person wishing to get to a destin- ation has to pick his way through. The town officials apparently believe that young people should do their sparkling at church meetings and not clutter up the highways with their machines.
 In the neighboring towns of New ington and West Hartford, the way of the ''spooner'' was made hard last summer. There was a constable be- hind every blade of grass and the moment the switch was turned off in an autom obile, minion of the law popped out and shouted By heck. you're under arrest.' Several well known New Britain folks fell into the tolls and only by using their powers of persuasion did they succeed in gaining their liberty.
 But the spirit of youth is ire pressible and it is a well-known fact | that love laughs at locksmith and suburban constables.
 A little bird flew in the office win np ver's" typewriter and whispered the | following:
 Once upon time. when I was | hardly able to fly, used to watch the kids go swimming and I used to say to myself: Gosh. I wish I was boy | and all .he time I knew the young sters envied my wings. Well, had | my nest near certain pond which was located on private property. It was corlSing good swimming pool. but the man who owned the land | didn't like to have the boys use it. Just the same, they'd sneak in once CT spor, than splashing about in any old pont, t.ocause the man who owned it didn't want them there. I suppose that bcy nature.
 Anyway, sometimes the man who owned th" pond would steal quietly up on the kids while they were hay ing great sport and he'd take their clothes off the bank and keep them until they sent home and got some money to give to the man so he would give their clothes back
 Ely away, little bird" the "Ob- said This is my busy day"
 But you haven't heard the half of it," the bird persisted" The man who used to take the boys clothes is now l prominent member of the Civic eague and he's insisting on everyone being upright and virtuous, an every hin. Well. so long, I have date with q little girl who puts crumbs put on her back porch every day"
 Wait, minute" the Observer aid. T want to get that mans ,ame."
 ''rry and get it." chirruped the It, le bird as it flew out the office win low again.
 Strategists of the democratic party Ire astounded at the situation in the fifth ward where the republicans have he field to themselves owing to the of one of the democratic and the discovery that the other is not a voter.
 They are particularly distressed be- 'ause they view the future in the fifth ward with misgivings. Allowing he election to go by default may so trengthen the republican party that { will be years before the democrats lave another opportunity to make the ace interesting in that district. The effect, from demo- ratio standpoint, will he so destruc- i've, they fear, that tho republicans ,ill succeed in getting themselves thoroughly entrenched and demo- ratio prestige will be shattered.
 For the past few years the fifth yard has been doubtful. Neither ,arty could safely count it in the fold. The popularity of the candidates who happened to be running at the time requently decided the outcome. Time nd again, the ward has changed its olitical complexion and both parties ave fought hard to control it. Now hat the democrats have vacated for
 year they may find it difficult to re- ain q footing.
 Nominating candidates without their onscnt or without Investigating their tatus is weakness with the demo- ratio party which does no credit to Is managers. Frequently men have cen nominated for office without cing questioned on their willingness