Evening star., 1949-11-03
Readers Discuss Correction
of Traditional Halloween Mischief

w. w. COBLENTZ.
READERS Discuss Correction
Of Traditional Halloween Mischief
To the Editor Of The Star:
May I suggest plan that is really not
plan at all for removing some Of the irrita-
tions of Halloween?
Children are extremely fond of dressing
up in outlandish, fantastic costumes, the
crazler the better. pretending they are what
they are not Like their grandparents, they
nave craving to show off occasionally and
be noticed. We all are peacocks, and Hal
loween is the time for strutting.
Some cities have regularly organized down.
town parades in an attempt to lure children
away from mischief
In other communities. or neiohhorhoods
particular street, circle or square merely
happens to be the place where every one
customarlly goes to show himself off, There
Is no planning, no trick treat on the mer-
chants to defray expenses (for there are
none), no floats no bands, no majorettes, no
grand marshals or dignitaries-just a pa
rade OF themselves. seeing what the other
1olk wear. goblin and witch fashion show.
Where that Is done. and 1t is done, hood
Iumlsm is forgotten. Who is going to miss
the fun?
Formal way-downtown parades, with a
start and finish, line of march, forma
lions. uniforms and all that. are all right
Tor returning heroes, but at Halloween we
are all heroes and the whole thing is our
personal affair." No curbstone for us on
Halloween.
He would be queer, lonely, detached,
backward boy who would prowl around back
yards When he could run over to where the
fun was going on. I've never yet heard of
boy who ran away from "doings," especially
When ne could take part in them
1t wouldn't surprise me if grandma climbed
the PACK fence to get into that sort of
parade, decked out SO that the deacon down
the street couldn't recognize her. if he too
was in the parade, keeping them both out of
mischief. You kids don't have all the fun in
the world. CORAM NOBIS.
To the Editor Of The STAR
There is nothing that shows up the thin
veneer OF civilization with which savage man
is plastered better than Halloween. There
should be vigorous campaign of educa-
tlon oy schools. organizations. pastors and
parents every year until the DANGEROUS
practlce OF unrestrained, irresponsible de-
struction OF property is wiped out. A per-
Verted mentality may think this is cute in
'cnlldren, but when the idea naturally is
carried into adulthood it is serious, as it
fosters the brutal side of mans nature.
they are sweating to produce for taxes
that is paying for city property DESTROYED,
tney might take more practical and less
romantic view Of the situation. The usual
trlck-or-treat holdup also Is bad-it is only
step to "stickup" later in life
In the meantime, according to rules of
psychology. the best way to get a child to
stop doing undesirable things is to substi
tute good activities. Therefore, there should
oe MOVIES, parties. dances ETC., in every
nelghborhood on Halloween IN.
TO the Editor OF The Star:
think 1t is high time something is done
about the celebration of Halloween. No
one wants more than I do to see children
enjoy themselves But the spirit" today is
to overlook "pranks" that cause expense
and misery
fortunately. the country has corrected
the former celebration of Fourth of July
which used to cause such dreadful accidents
with death and destruction.
Is 1t not possible now for us adults to
make laws that will protect us? We had
an engagement Monday night and. there
fore. could not be home to treat" So we
had to pay the penalty Halloween cost us
$3.50, which could have been used for the
Community Chest
oelleVe IL is up to us adults to do some-
thing. MARY ALDEN sNS1TII III
Proposes Organizing Honest EMPLOYEES
or Government in Drive Against Waste
To the Editor Of The Star:
In the manner Of one addicted to alco- /,
nollsm, I am Government employe who has
grown accustomed to accepting money for
work never performed There are so many
OF us that should like to see formed an
0fQQniZotinn HyeNH TJ>L
NOUS
The purpose of the society would be to
rehabilitate Government employees who have
the desire but not the will to break away
from the easy dollar: the wish but not the
decision to quit the gravy train and enter
the ranks OF those Americans who are Ia
boring to produce something
Ihere are approximately 500, 900 employees
OF the Federal Government eligible for men,
oersnip. Each year we accept $4,000, ,000, 900
OF the taxpayers money to provide our
livelihood. In addition to spending each
day IN enervating and unconstructive idle
ness, we are accorded six weeks of leave
each yea, plus whatever sick leave we
choose to take. It is a nice, pleasant ex-
lstence, but conscience suggests that it is a
dishonest one
We have been so indoctrinated to the
practice OF no work for our pay that, like
with dope addiction, it will be q terrific
struggle to break away but the redemption
Of our pride and self-respect makes the
fight worth while. e. j.
Forerunner of Helen Keller
Discovered in Dickens Americana
To the Editor Of The Star:
Looking through American Notes" by
Charles Dickens. I came across an account
Of a girl who might be called Helen Keller's
predecessor. Her name was Laura Bridg-
man. She was blind. deaf, mute and with
out much or any sense Of smell.
Mr.. Dickens met her In Boston at the
Perkins Institution for the blind. That was
in 1842. He gives some pages to very
interesting account Of the method made use
Of by DR.. Samuel Gridley Howe. who was
her instructor. VIM B. RANSFORD.