Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1883-11-02
GIOrifyiur ROrues.

In view of recent developments in our
midst the following article from the Ameri-
can Cultivator is especially timely. Perhaps
the foolish boys in the upper part of our
county got the inspiration for their criminal
ventures from the sensational newspapers
that magnify the worst criminals into heroes,
rather than from the dime novels;
''The palmy days of Jack Shepard, Dick
Turpin and Jonathan Wild have been re-
vived. The gentlemanly 'cracksman' and
highwayman are again to the fore and their
lives will be O nine-days' wonder in New
York. This has been brought about by the
killing of John Irving and John Walsh in
low drinking saloon. They were both bur
glars. They were both enemies of society,
and they were no loss to the community in
which they lived, though one of them is said
to have provided generously for his family.
They may miss him. No one else will
The removal of these men to another
sphere has caused much comment in New
York papers. Too much, in point Of fact
They have been elevated to the dignity of
heroes, and as much space has been devoted
to their taking off and burial as if they had
been distinguished in science, art, literature
or politics. Their passing away has been
chroncled in columns of space, with large
that could give sensational color to the ac-
counts of the dead men and their surround
ings. The grief of relatives the appearance
of the rooms where the bodies lay, the motto.
rious and well dressed criminals who came to
gazs upon the dead, have all been pictured
with minuteress that has, no doubt, attract.
ed many young readers who have not yet
taken their first step in crime, but who will
be eager to do so on account of the import
ance that has been given in the New York
journals to the lives and deaths of these out
lawed men.
'Are the newspapers to blame for this /?
In measure, yes but the public taste, which
demands exhaustive descriptions Of really un-
important events, is more to be condemned.
What matters it whether Irving or Walsh
ever lived mere paragraph stating that
they were killed ought to be sufficient to sat
isfy any sensible person. The greatest good
to the greatest number would be accomplish.
ed by Immediately forgetting their crimes,
and their virtues, If they had any.
And speaking Of virtues, great deal of
stress has been laid on the generosity of one
OF these rascals, as if free handedness had
not been one of the distinguishing character.
lstics of desperadoes from time immemorial.
Money that comes easily usually goes in the
same way, and though we are not inclined
to discourage liberality in any walk of life we
do not like to have the generosity of thief
held up to the young as something worthy of
exceptional praise 1t may lead them to be-
lieye that, like charity, it covers a multitude
of sins, and if they once adopt such belief
there is no knowing where they will stop
There are, no doubt, plenty of mean men
who are undeservingly called honest and re-
spectacle, but their deeds are not celebrated
in the newspapers and there is no danger that
they will appear in heroic light Youth is
fond of adventure, and if it is not surround
cd by efficient moral safeguards at home, it is
not apt TO question the means by which it can
CRAFTY its desires, especially if it finds that
dishonest deeds and their doors occupy as
much of tue public attention as the works of
good men. They are prone to believe that
the ambitious youth who fired the Ephesian
dome outliyes in fame the pious fool who
reared it, Therefore we most emphatioally
desire that the glorifeation Of great criminals
in the press should be disoountenanced by
the reading public"