Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Sept. 23, 1916)
Letters From Our Readers POOL HALL AND BILLIARD HALL DESTRUCTION Editor The Monitor: Most people of our race complain of not having places to go to for enjoy ment. We have no place of this kind. By this I mean a place where no one would be ashamed to go and have a nice quiet time and be respected and not be molested in any way. How can we when some of our most pop ular leaders who have the money and means to erect and support a place of this kind for moral purposes will not do so ? Those who do have the means only think of erecting a place to make more money in questionable ways. These places most usually are pool-halls, billiard halls or saloons. They are of no advantage to our men and boys. Boys as young as thirteen years are permitted to enter these places and spend their money. Boys i without the protection of a father receive little attention. These boys should be watched more carefully than other boys. Men running these places are not apt to allow boys who have a father’s protection to frequent their places as much as a boy who hasn’t. True, boys need places to enjoy themselves, but pool halls are no places for them to go. Playing pool is, in most cases, the first, step in gambling. What mother would like to see her son lose his week’s or month's salary playing pool? None, I am sure. Some poor helpless mothers have strong opinions of their boys going to these places, but for the sake of modesty refrain from going in them to see for themselves. But if the mother goes to these proprietors some of them will try to shoo her off with some soft story that her boy does not come to his place and that he does not allow minors in his place. Every place of this kind in this city is strictly forbidden to allow boys in their places. If the older generation does not try to portect the younger one how do they expect them to progress? Dice playing is another step to des truction. Men and boys have been seen playing dice in broad daylight at the corner of Twenty-fourth and Patrick avenue, by a large tree. To think of our men and boys playing dice right on a street as popular as Twenty-fourth street, where passersby both white and colored, are at liberty to see our folks indulge in such dis graceful sport. Right there that man or boy may have spoiled a good position not only for himself, but for some other boy or man who may need a position worse than himself. The white business man passing by thought right away: “Well, if I hire one of those I can’t trust him.” If he hired one of those boys who play cards and dice and he should lose his money that would mean either a jail sentence, a lost job, a good job spoiled and possibly a term in prison. There most certainly should be a stop put to this embarassing and disgrace ful business. I think of the people who run these places and allow min ors in them are properly punished it won’t be long before a stop will be put to it. Long trousers are all these boys need for these keepers to prove an alibi. It matters not if they be ten years old. I certainly did catch one of my boys in a pool hall at eleven o’clock at night, a time when all boys should be at home in bed. I think a great many mothers and wives would do exactly right if they would watch these places. A great many boys are supposed to be at moving pictures and can easily be found at a pool hall. Pool halls are a menace to wives ! as well as mothers. Some of these j places have regular games played for money. Patient wives and mothers, open your eyes and look at these things ind see for yourselves. Respectfully yours, Mrs. Lucy Gumm, 1809 North 23d St. Omaha, Neb., Sept. 7, 1916. Rev. John Albert Williams, Editor Monitor, Dear Sir:—It gives me great pleas ure to send you herewith my check for $2.00 for the renewal of my sub scription to your well-edited and in structive paper, which I read with interest and profit each week. Wishing you well-deserved success, believe me, Very sincerely yours, Ed. F. Morearty. (Mr. Morearty evidently believes that our subscription price ought to be $2.00 instead of $1.50. Thanks. —Editor.) SOUTH SIDE The dedication of the new Bap tismal Pool for Bethel Baptist Church was postponed from Sunday, Sept. 24, to Sunday, Oct. 1, at 3 p. m. Rev. T. A. Taggart, pastor, and officers did this in order that they might assist Rev. J. H. Nichols Sunday, Sept. 24, at 3 p. m. in his last effort before he leaves for conference. Rev.Mr. Nichols and his congregation thankand ap preciate this very much. We respect fully invite and urge all our friends to come over and help us. Mr. Ralph Agee, of 4801 Parker St., who last week underwent an oper ation for appendicitis at South Oma ha hospital, was taken home Wednes day very much improved. Mrs. Alston, of 2628 Jefferson St., died Thursday, Sept. 21. Mrs. Al ston, who is but recently from Texas, has been in poor health since her ar rival in Omaha. She leaves four sons and two daughters here in Omaha and other children and relatives in Texas. No arrangements for the funeral have yet been made. Little Miss Ruth Adams, of 4421 South 26th St., has been unable to attend school this week on account of sickness. Mrs. Marie Gray, of 4222 South 24th St., underwent an operation at the South Side hospital Monday, Sept. 18. We are glad to say she is get ting along nicely. G. WADE OBEE LEAVES FOR LOS ANGELES Saturday morning G. Wade Obee, his older son and mechanician, left Omaha with two automobiles on a drive to Los Angeles where he and his family will make their future home. M. Obee came to Omaha about nine years ago and established his under taking business, meeting at the very outset the determined hostility of the local white undertakers. But he showed fight, pluck and determination and fought opposition until the Col ored undertaker was acecpted as a permanent addition to growing Oma ha, and now there are three success ful firms here. Mr. Obee was an ag gressive and progressive citizen of Omaha anxious to see business enter prises developed among the race. His friends will be pleased to hear of his making a success wherever he may go. Mrs. Obee and younger son left by rail. Weeds can’t grow any faster than i paper whose subscribers remember its advertisers. Reliable South Side Merchants I STANEK’S PHARMACY 1 | Henry Stanek, Prop. ♦ - PRESCRIPTION EXPERT 1 1 Cor. 24th and L Sts. Tel. So. 8781 T1IE* B^T“nOTTOOG^ FOR YOU You’ll find it at FLYNN'S Priced Right in Your Favor MELCHOR-- Druggist The Old Reliable Tel. South 807 4826 So. 24th St. Wall Paper, Paints and Glass, Picture Framing FRED PARKS Painting and Paper Hanging .Teh South 101 4622.So. 24th St. ’• ! Forrest & Meany Drug Co. t PRESCRIPTION DRUGGISTS 1 N. E. Corner 24th and N Sts., 1 South Omaha. t Phones, South 501-502 t | Millinery | T at * Neidl’s, 24th and K Sts. I Telephone South 1495. Gunsmith Locksmith f The Novelty Repair Co. I High Grade Cutlery and Barber j Supplies * Grinding and Repairs of All Kinds j Bicycle Repairing a Specialty. J 4809 South 24th St. Tel South 1404 { *' * "eaVdTnnIer* sun'day —at— Little King Hotel Prices, 15c and Up Mrs. E. Embree, Prop. 4832 South 26th Street. Petersen & Michelsen Hardware Co. GOOD HARDWARE 2408 N St. Tel. South 162 Send your Cleaning, Dyeing, Press ing, Tailoring and Repairing to THE PEKIN Shoes made and repaired Work Called for and Delivered 2813 Q St. 5206 S. 30th St. Phone S. 2058, Frank Pierson, Prop. {complete Line of Watches, Clocks; j and Jewelry. ! Repair Work My Specialty t CHAS. BELOHLAVEK ♦ Jeweler and Watchmaker J 2412 N Street t 11 Assist Us In Preventing Accidents i1 ,, 11 11 We appeal to passengers to exercise care in geting on and off street cars and when crossing streets on which cars are operated. Carelessness in this respect often results in serious accidents. 11 l i 1 i i I i i II ii Omaha & Council Bluffs Street Railway Company 11 1 «i *"*"*"*** GOqD GROCERIES always •••••••••••••• C. P. WESIN GROCERY CO. Also Fresh Fruits and Vegetables. 2005 Cuming St. Telephone Douglas 1098 | Your Autumn Needs j Can be filled here at a ! moderate cost I Thompson, Belden & Co. I HOWARD AND SIXTEENTH STREETS I---—---j Geo. A. Magney i Democratic Candidate for i County Attorney ...