ABSTRACT
It is an indisputable fact that the practice of Street-Lounging prevails to an enormous extent in all our towns; and in proportion to the size of the towns is the magnitude of this evil, which, from its great cause of annoyance to shopkeepers and the public, has, called forth the animadversions of the public press. I am perfectly aware that there are numbers of young men who are ready to plead many things in extenuation and justification of this practice; but to none of them can I conscientiously give my acquiescence. It is now some time since I began to think seriously about this subject; and the more I turn my attention to it, and the longer I see the practice indulged in and extending, the more am I convinced that some energetic means, apart from all physical force (which I detest and abhor), should be put forth for the repression of this public nuisance, for such is the soft est expression which I can use regarding it. How this is to be accomplished, I do not pretend to venture an opinion, my sole aim being here to induce the young readers of The Working Man’s Friend, if any such there are to whom this subject is applicable, to forsake this idle practice; and, instead of wasting their precious time, and frequently their health, by the tenacity with which they nightly adhere to this dearly-bought pleasure(!) to seek for some more rational method of enjoying themselves, and occupying their leisure hours, which are too few to admit of being consumed in a trifling manner.
