The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1865-11-11
Ignorance q Source of Crime

Few persons, even at this day, realize the full
Importance of q thorough education of the young.
Too many look upon it merely as fashionable
accomplishment or as means of acquiring
wealth with greater facility in after life.g They
fail to be convinced that their obligations to their
country and to morality demand the liberal ed
ucaiion of their children. The repetition aof
these obligations seems to have little effect. Peo-
pie hear but do not heed them. They look up
on them as empty declarations, very plausible
in theory, but needless and impossible. in. prac-
tce. They io.not realize tie great. Epings fact
that is embodied in the assertion that ''Igno-
rance is the source of crime" Let US call the
attention of such to the report OLA New York
Prison Association Committee. 80 'Of565 prison
ers, l79, or 80 per cent could not read l11S pr
81 per cent could read only ) l265 or as per
cent, could, read and write; while, only eight
had received q complete educatons Now ntthe
whole State of New York only twod and severn
tenths per ccnt.of the adult populationaare ouii-
able TO read, while 81 per cent. OF those who
commit crime do not possess that ability Hence,
nearly one-third the crime in the State is com;
Matted By a.little more than two7hnpdreths Of
the population. Ton o9asq cd 4sdiieg biuods
/ Butleven this statement. is far froma showing
the full influence of ignorance inlthe commission
ofcrinie. The Committee goes on to say: 2ha
| Those who are put down as able TO read only
and even the large portion Of those who are on
therecord as ableio read and write, possess that
accomplishment in very limited degree The
claimed the ability to read, and found hardly
any of them in possession of it to- thai degree
which would render it available for any really
| practical advantage. They read with so much
labor and SO little intelligence, that they can
never reeort to ii either for wiSdoor fecrea tion
Not one-fourth Of those who were asked to do 50,
could spell the words read and write correct
| ly and a majority Of the prisohefs who were
tried, were obligedJto spell at;least a fourth of
the words before they could pronounce them. 81
| From these statements it may be seen what a
larnentable and prolific source Of crime Ignorance
is in New York, and what is true in n. r., is
equally true in Maryland, in this respect. anil.
Some very good and, sensible men have ian
idea that education leads to immortality and w
ciousness THAT the better man is educated,
the more capable and the more. disposed She is to
commit wickeduess. Let the above Report con-
vince such of their error, 10 int. any IF our
city Criminal and Police Courts, or even into our
County Courts and yonwill find that ninertenths
ofthe Criminals are such sihaye had little or
no education I'VE wish that it could be iri1'
pressed on the mind Of every parent in Baltimore
county, that cdscdtonss the source Of morality.
The better Won educate SOur children the betI
ter men, the better citizens, the more useful and
prosperousn members ofthe community will they
beadt o. ton 92GtnaY baTsd % giro 9d biBoy
Send your children regularly to school; see
that they have good Teachers; interest yourselves
| in their studies aid them wherever you can I
encourage them in their work i, show them the
importance OF diligents application! Thus syon
| will exert an influence for good that wiA 8be
| felt when your bodies are mo uldeting7 i'm THEM
graves and your spirits are enjoying their final
| reward '%7 oH nm '''ate'' = ''" 'Su0