Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-10
The Increase Of Youthful Dcpravisy.

The Increase Of Youthful Depravity.
WHAT THE GRAND JURY SAID on THE SUB
JECT-THE NEED OF REFORMED METHODS OF
TREATING CRIMINALS.
The report of the grand jury, of which brief
synopsis was given in THE STAR yesterday,
said: whilst crime to any extent is to be de-
plored. it may be safely claimed that in no COM
munity are human life and the rights of prop
erty more safely guarded than here. There is
one deplorable fact which may be mentioned
in this connection-the increase of youthful,de-
prttvity In our community and of offenses COM
United by those who have started out at an
early period in life upon a career of vice and
crime. Many Of that class in the community,
spurning all restraint, parental Gf that exists)
or otherwise, give themselves up to a life of
ldleness, and IL almost necessarily follows that
in short time they become adopts in crime:
Much of this evil may be attributed to some of
the popular amusements of the day. among
which may be mentioned one which
rapid growth. We refer to the large number of
what is known pool rooms. Many of them
are frequented by and have their largest, If not
entire, patronage from the class referred to.
IhlS tact has come to the knowledge of this
grand jury in their investigation OF onenses
committed by these youthful offenders. With
out any useful occupation, and without any
disposition to engage in such, they spend al
most their entire time in these places of resort,
ana /. Is hardly to be doubted that in these
places their schemes and plans for committing
their dcpredations are inaugurated. The evil
Is one of such magnitude that this grand jury
deem 1T their duty to pass upon it their con-
domination, hoping that some adequate remedy
may be found and put in operation for its sup
preston.
Among the problems of the day which present
themselves tor consideration there is none more
diiiicult OF solution than that of how to treat
tle criminal classes. Whilst it may be properly
claimed that they should receive humane treat
mcnt, none the less urgent should be the de-
mand that the punishment meted out to them
should be of such character TO cause them
after one experience to fear 1t, and thus be de-
TERED from again committing of1enses against
tine law That the punishment which petty
criminals undergo in our Jail in eXpiation of
their ofienseS does not have that effect is a pat
ent fact. clearly established by the frequency
With Which the same offenders are united
to jail. sentenced for longer or shorter period,
and who, after serving out their term, come out
to renew their criminal practices. Does such
punishment, if it may be called punishment
prevent CRIME? May it not be said to foster and
encourage crime? Considered then failure,
it would seem TO be polite to substitute for it
some other method of punishment more likely
TO reform the criminal, or at least to restrain
him in his vicious propensities, and at the same
time to afford the community better protection
from criminal depredations."
The National College of Pharmacy.
a LIST OF THE GRADUATES THIS YEAR.
The National College of Pharmacy will have
its graduating exercises next Tuesday evening,
at Ford's Opera House. The program includes
a prayer by Rev. G. A. Grifliths, salutatory by
Francis A. st. Clair, comforting of degrees by
Chas. Becker president of the college: an ad-
dress to the graduates by Prof Samuel Wagsa-
man, NJ. d., Phar. d., and the valedictory by
A !, l.; LaTrence ., The graduates aa are jas
Bennett, Ireland; G. II. Lee Cole, Va; JOS. y.
Horigan, d. c.; Albert l.. Lawrence, Ohio; VIM.
4. Mitchell, d. c.; Alfred Moss: Va; Edward Z.
+. \. Schacfer, Germany, and Herman 3. Wad-
dey, Va. The undergraduates are Z. G. T..
Becker, c. II. Franzoni. Chas. Hawkins, Max
Koch, r. c. Milburn, W. c. Mass, +. A. st. Clair,
$. I. Stott, Conrad Weiss, E. w. Whiteside, w.
p. Wolhaupter, j. E. Warder, $. Lynch and J..