The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-03-28
neon p. SIN.

MEssRs. EDITORS OF THE DEMOCRATIC AD-
vocATE Your kind illusions to US in sorrow
give such assurance of your friendship and
fairness in the chronicle of current events
above that of some whose ancestral heraldry
is angelic, and who have divine guarantee
against remote relative infrmity, that they
from crystal palace towers of Innocence could
become the iubilant carrier doves OF others
misfortune, prompt us to seek this other favor
respecting the calamity that afflicts us far
worse than death-of statement.
From his birth till d years old he was
gentle affectionate, obedient and bright, so
much so that Rev. G. w. Israel, teaching a
public school in Clarksburg, Nd, excused
himself for going so much out of his way and
methods to say to his father that boy of such
phenomenal mental capacity should have the
utmost attention given his mental culture; but
alas, alas, in sorrow His early promise was
utterly wrecked by malignant scarlet fever,
which killed his little sister and did worse for
him, and our experience for over fourteen
years says worse for US.
After Cleons attack of scarlet fever his
physical health recovered with gluttonous APP
petite and vigorous digestion, and rapid growth
of every instinct and impulse, with an idiotic
life of nearly ten (10) years.
We kept him housed, away from school, and
guarded him agains. irritation with great so
licitude, hoping to recover his mind and i'm
prove his moral sense, which was dead.
When we ventured to let him out our sorrows
began to increase. Violence supplanted gen.
tlehess, even to striking little one; disobe-
dience and treachery took the places OF inn
plicit fidelity and the former joyous haste to
obey MS. He utterly hated books, and sought
only the company of the vile and vulgar
He was wreck-reason and conscience were
10 he bapsofbfad lffn Ha
grows worse and worse.
Freedom is dangerous, and confinement a
blessing to all concerned, for such poor
creature, who claims that he does not know
what he does or whom he offends. Though
l pledged myself to have nothing to do with
counsel or court in his case, when was sum
moned as witness | told his able counsel,
Mr.. Whyte, that our distress and the peace OF
society demanded that he should be provided
for as insane, and | protested against his re-
lease if proven innocent. Counsel claimed
that simple assault was all the State claimed,
and the insanity plea would be better left on
its own merits.
The termination Of the case is familiar. He
was given his choice of four months in the
city Jail or House of Correction. 1t is SIN
cerely to be hoped that some improvement IN
mind and morals will result 1t is simply I'M
possible Tor sound ihlnu 70 gro" up a' my
family altar and be ungallant to woman,
or cruel to a child, or contemptuous to old
age. Permit me to repeat the thanks of our
home for your kind reference to us, while re-
porting the repeated waywardness of this
poor, demented and wretched boy.
Our sorrow has been as dense as the night
that binds the eyes of the native blind. From
few, very few, we have had assurance of
personal sympathy But God will help US
through, and, when others trials come, we
will be ready to run and help, not shy and
scorn. j. D. STILL.
Baltimore, March Fl, 1885.