Worcester Democrat and the ledger-enterprise. (Pocomoke City, Md.) 1921-1953, 1940-04-12
~
from the
Democrats Pen

very precoclouS youngsters WlIhAl AIS
gates. A good dictionary in my pos
session defines the word, "prococious"
in reference to a child, as forward
in development, especially mental
development" l reckon that's all
right; it's not for me to cast any
stones at it, anyhow.
I came across one of these PRO
cocious" kids one day last week.
precocious because he apparently, did
some quick thinking, showing some
of that forward mental development"
quoted from the above definition.
This particular specimen of the fu-
ture hopes of America was riding his
bicycle on the sidewalk. took oc-
casion to accost him thusly:
"Say, young Teller, don't you know
you are in direct violation of one of
the Municipal ordinances?"
He sort of looked at me as if I
was some sort of foreigner. At any
rate, 1 could see I had spoken a
strange language to him; and so, l
translated it in the vernacular he
could understand. 1 said -
"You are breaking the law, riding
your bike on the pavement, and "a
cop'll git We, eff you don't look out"
Well, Sir, something very unusual
happened, just then. An officer came
right up at the precise moment he
was needed. Generally, you know, a
policeman, when he is wanted, is cut
ting ice in Labrador; hunting ele-
plants in South Africa; looking at
stars in Hollywood; or riding on one
of those two-wheeled vehicles in Toxic
Il forget what you call 'em.
But, bless Peter! here was brass
buttons, officers badge, cap, stripes,
and the entire outfit right at my ell
bow. I said to him: Officer that
boy yonder violates the law prohibit
ing bicycling on the side walk. Do
your duty"
Now, l didn't want to do anything
except to get that youngster thinking
it was good policy to obey the laws.
I gave Mr.. Policeman wink, and he
called out
boy! come over here" AT that
moment, Mr.. Precocious had dis
mounted his wheel and was sort of
leaning up against it. HeS placed it
against the brick building he was
near, and, while he walked slowly a.
ccross the street to where we were
standing, some of that "precocity"
must have been developing rapidly,
and that youngsters mind was NOV
ing faster than his heels. When he
finally reached our side of the street,
Mr.. Officer said:
"This man says you've been riding
your bicycle on the sidewalk. How
about it,"
"No, Sir, I haven't been riding it"
"What were you doing?"
II was just sittin' on it and pushin'
myself along. That's all"
Now. gentle reader, I appeal to
you. What could be done after hear
ing that nice distinction between
"riding bike, and what that young
rascal really was doing. Why, that
answer is worthy to be recorded in
history along with some of those CIV
en- to despotic rulers by poor devil
condemned to death for some trivial
offense; and said answer had saved
his life even as this boys turned a
serious 90 situation into an anus
ing one.
There was no argument could be
urged successfully against the testi-
mony of the bike rider. He certainly
was sitting on that wheel and pushing
it along. The cop and I both saw the
utter impossibility of bringing that
logician to the point where he could
see and understand that "ridin' and
"pushin' while sittin' were very
nearly synonymous terms.
So all that could be done was to
dismiss him with the Biblical injunc-
ton: eco thou and sin no more"
~ won't" he says, which might be
construed to indicate that there was,
after all, sneakin' idea he was Grid
ing" a bike in violation of certain
regulations. I believe, however, that
if he rides again on the pavement,
he'll take special care to see that
neither a possible informer nor a big
man in a blue coat and brass buttons
is closer than the poles are to the
equator.
Invitations have been issued for