Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1875-10-21
Reports Of Crimes.

Readers of our city dailies during the
past week ''have supped full with bor-
ror." We do not recall n time when with
in so limited period there have been 40
many records OF crime And the crimes
have been more than commonly atrocio.s.
They have been attended with some new
circumstance OF horror such as has
shocked the mind to an unwont-d degree.
And our dailies have seemed to us to have
given more than their usual space to their
narratives of these most appalling TRACE
dies. The great giaring head lines, word
ed so as 10 strike the reader with amaze
ment and terror, have been followed by
two or three columns packed full with all
the minute details OF the bloody scene.
II is deit hand that produces these
graphic narratives. These cases are
worked up" with immense painstsking
and skill. As artistic efforts they are al
most masterpieces. No feature Il omitted
which might serve to augment the horror
Every possible nerve of feeling in the read.
CT is duly struck. The whole gamut OF his
painful sensations Is traversed.
That all this must produce some effect
upon the moral nature of these readers
cannot be doubted. II is not possible for
our sensibilities to be thus stirred and
thrilled and no impression be made upon
| cormuni.y must be most seriously affected
| by this constant familiarity with these
scenes Of brutality and bloodshed. The
moral nature cannot for a long time stand
such strain. Its tenderness. its pity. its
very sense OF horror. must inevitably fade
ont. Men must grow cold and hardened
aud constituencies under such an Acquaut-
! Ancc with spectaces so bloody and revolt
| ing Under Ike system OF education the
tender nature of the Roman matrons and
maidens was made more hard and cruel
than any beast of the forest. The tigresses
| of au African jungle would not come to-
| gether 10 witness the dying throes OF their
| fellows. Roman ladies would crowd the
/ vast amphlheairc, and clap their white
| hands in glee over the spectacle of glade
I tors massacring each other il was the
/ result Of education. Doubtless the first
| spectacle stirred every tender sensibility
/ In their wonanly souls. But these rude
| aud frequent shocks, like blows upon the
| musical instrument, broke all iinphess OF
| tone. The faces once wet with tears be &.
came flushed with keen enjoyment. The
| hand once raised in protest was stretched
/ out 10 give the signal 70. the final blow
! IL must be that the eager perusal OF these
hlghly-wrought descriptions OF outrage
aud murder is telling with injurious effect
I upon inuEluuais anu upon The community
II may be that its direct fruits are to be
seeu In the nature and number OF the
| crimes which have burst upon US Il is a
subject worthy OF most serious consldera-
/ ton, rs 10 how far ii Is necessary that the
/ public, day AFTER day, the members OF our
| households. the children there, should
have their imasinations filled with these
| highly cOloreC pictures of scenes of blood
shed. That our daily journals are com
hitting n grievous mistake In this direction
we have no doubt. We feel certain. too,
that large majority of tfeir readers do
not want these long detailed narratives OF
/ crime. Many OF them, We are sure, turn
/ from these columns with 4 feeling Of dis
gust, and with fear, too, as to the injury
which such reading may produce upon the
! imagiuations aud morals of their children.
| There is a sentiment in respect TO this mat
ter among the respectable and intelligent
portion of the community which Ia some
way ought to find expression. Let il be
uttered, Waterman and Reflector.