, 1873-07-14
SOME EEIGMAS OF DEATH,
1o tho Editor Of The Chicago Tribune:


Sin: In last Mondays TRIBUNE, under the
head Of "Bouao Enigmns Of Death," ron dis
cussed tho frightful destruction OF human life,
and closed by soliciting IN expression from
philosophers on the subject III pursuance OF
which will tako the liberty OF addressing you,
In tho simplest language, u few Of my notions in
regard to it. Tho first and most important step
toward reform ie to ascertain tho cause of tho
evil In question, and to this will try to conflno
myself.
That We are creatnros OF circumstances, and
that our bodies aud minds are. principally
built up by the exercise they arc
subjected to, may bo 1oarned from ordinary OBJ
aoryation. By proper training and exercise, a
man may enlarge and strengthen his musclcB,
and otherwise develop vigorous body he thon
is competent to mako good worker or good
btuiser. Exercise has moro to do In tho devol-
opment Of our bodies thnu tho kind Of food wo
cut and this principle is far mora potent in re-
gard to the mind. BY tho constant oxorclae of
tho montal organs Of tleBtrnctiveness, thoy may
good soldier, q good butcher, or murdor-
Or. Mental development is almost wholly
tho result OF thought, and thoughts aro engen-
dared by our surroundings, by what We do,
% %as q our n'eaS 1as % 81 sun tqise1s e% 1e
with religious thoughts when undertaking to
convert us successful politicians .novor undor-
took the regulation Of our diet il order to draw
listen to their speechos, by reading their 1.ews-
ttheir procassions,-9in short, by exercising our Ut
minds With tho thoughts they Furnished.
sas beginning sa E vii II ssnsy sns sna ts
u soa as nfh ef neSssas 'D"s Should sa begin
Iighs; r1e p,,yslo!ogieal principle, that the dla.
ton and habits Of its mother during gostation,
has been known for ages even the most litter
ate mothers wero aware OF it. The foundation
Of tho mind is laid in tho peraon's embryo stato,
yariously developed Children, therefore, como
into tho world with natural i1lclinationA which
were formed by tho exercise Of the
mothoI's mind during pregnancy; Now:
futhto minds : not tho mothers,-for they o,
arc governed by surrounding circunsstances,-
but those who Furnished tho thoughts that e1or-
ciBod tiieig mtnda. Temporanco-lecturers asauro
us that there arc - born drunlartls ;" 10 also
are therc born murdotera Biblical proverb il.
As the tw1g is bent, so the tree inolnoB." III
many children, tho oruel disposition il earl'
manifested by thoir delight III killing or ttt-
menting insecte When they Aave learned to
Of adventures with lndiana, bears, etc The
boys, ~ soon ~ ab!a to carry one, must nave
gun, and go out and shoot something, Just Tor
the sake Of gratifying thelr Destructive propen-
sasy 'a wait tug NOR: rAss shsy talk 'ns anoas 1le
theinselyes is about fighting, or something with
which violence is concerlisd their first news
paper-roadng il whit cotp,s under tho head Of
40 they progress in slltivating thor already
over-large destructive faculties.
Newspapers are row the most oogent tnstrl-
tnants for tho guidance OF the public mind, and
foe oe tho nS iHa u and nd iqe gon
orationH; and here wish to make little lco-
ture to THe Tn1nunE; 1t is this aB much as
anything shat Induced mo to write. ! am q
e. srt Of n 90 mot
this subject (not supposing that you caro- about
it,. 4 newspaper al prominent and widely-oir-
culsted nj It must exert a great influence in
shaping opinions now, 10 which direction is II
what montai organs is it stimulating { Take,
for instance, its editorials on the Modoo Indians,
for the last six months did the spirit there
manifested tho invoctiyes OF tired DEVILS"
toward softening OF inanmlng tho passions Z
The Haudliu sentimentalism snoaringly con-
demned by The TRIBUNE may, after all, lead to
better results than ita yengeful urginga Of su1n-
mary puniHhment.
Again, there arc the executions Of tho death
ponalty, on which newspapers viii elaborate
with gloating satisfaction, n,-the unatited Justice
meted out tho outraged law vindcated. These
reports are eagerly devonred by al claasos Of no.
ciety; and what mental organs do such st1nll-
late7 Let thene ARTICLES be written In Btyle 80
~ to cEoato pity instead Of vengeance. lily
philosophy would teach mo that eyo1y hanging
causes far moro murdorous INCLINATION than 1t
prevents.
Tho Htste Of society, whom depending for safe
ty on the terror Of the law, III In very
unhealthy condition. Tho mau who il
only prevented from killing anothor by fear Of
the Law ia, IN one nenho, murderer. Laws,
think, aro seldom thought Of nllen suoh doods
arc committed; and, II they arc, from the worry
nature Of violent peraons, thoy will bo trcatoa
with defiance. am for tho lnrgest personal lib
erty possible, and in principle opposed to all pro-
hibltionsi but bolieye that that Of tho liquor
traalo-which Ia somewhat agitated-woul.i 30 OF
tho prohibition OF tho general firearms, aud the
combining OF, hunting and fishing to oommis-
stoned peraonB, bofora would that Of tho liquor
traffic, believing that the former il tho most do
morsllzing and Injurious. LouENzo RANK.
0swkao, Ill. July 10, 1878.
nEMARK8,-T4H TRIBUNE in something of 4