As promised, here’s the full 24-page booklet distributed by the Cape Girardeau (MO) Police Department in the mid to late 50s. Click on any image to make it larger, then move through the gallery by clicking on the left or right side of the picture.
Beware of Strangers
Two pages have an unsual use of the word “moron.” They define it as one who molests young children – either boys or girls.
(“Your Parents Will We Pleased to Explain This Matter More Fully.” Yeah, I bet that was just the discussion they wanted to have at the breakfast table in 1956.)
I’ve never heard the word used in this context, it doesn’t show up in any online dictionaries that I could find, and my copy of the American Dictionary of Slang is silent on it.
Check out Rube Goldberg on Page 22
You normally think of Rube Goldberg’s crazy inventions, but this looks more like the Don Hesse style in the old St. Louis Globe-Democrat.
Actions have consequences
The overall message of the booklet is that actions have consequences. That’s not a bad thing.
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4 responses so far ↓
1 Horace
// Nov 11, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Thank you for sharing that!
2 Cape Girardeau Police Department's Safety Tips from the 1950s | Cape Central High Photos and History // Nov 15, 2009 at 10:31 pm
[...] Here’s where you can see the whole book. [...]
3 Terry
// Nov 19, 2009 at 11:28 pm
Gees after reading this…I am NEVER riding a bike again …way too dangerous!
4 Ken Steinhoff
// Nov 19, 2009 at 11:32 pm
Terry,
See why Boomers look both ways before crossing a street – even a one-way street?
Paranoia was big in those days.
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