The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1888-12-26
INC Growth or crime.

The leading newspapers of our
land are daily filed with accounts
of atrocious GRIMES, and in nearly
every case the offender is in his or
her youth. The lack of useful en-
ployment, in many instances, is an
incentive to spend time in habits
and pastimes that lead to extrayaz
gance, and, to obtain money to con-
tinue the expensive pleasures, crime
of some sort is restored to. Parents
are much to blame in not looking
after their children. AS a general
rule the child is allowed too much.
liberty in the choice of its compan-
ions, especially at night. TO many
it appears a harsh measure to re-
qnire the son or daughter to remain
at home during the evening, or to
inquire particularly as to the CONF
panions they associate with when
away from the parental roof, butt
when so many temptations are open
to our youth, it is an imperative
duty. In after life the child will
bless its parents for the watchful
care of its youth. This watchful-
ness can be done in a kind and
cheerful manner. Let the home
surroundings be pleasant and cheer
full. Give the young people plenty
of amusements-ga games of various
kinds, music, entertaining books,
&c. Do not be afraid of making
companions of them, and join them
in the pleasures of life. In this
way they will not seek their pleas
ures away from home.
A recent issue of the Cleveland
Plain Dealer has the following well
written editorial upon crime and
education:
"Crimes increase with the growth
in population, and no matter, what
the method of punishment are not
likely to become less in number.
In every community there is vici-
GUS class which year by year be-
comes more pronounced and more
difficult to control because of its
environment. Generation follows
generation on the same PLANE, re-
ceiving continual accessions from a
higher plane where the methods of
life have a downward or democrat
izing tendency.
Crime and criminals are always
found where the conditions prevail
which foster them. Idleness and
lack of thrift are among the prevail
ing causes of crime. The son of the
rich man who is not brought up in
habits of industry, but is allowed
plenty of uncarned pocket money
while a youth, is more likely to be-
come a criminal in his manhood
than is the son of the mechanic or
the day laborer who is brought up
in habits of economy, and taught
that he must depend upon his own
honest labor for support while yet
he is but a boy.
The common school system of
this country does more to reduce
the number of those who incline to
criminal practices than does any
other single factor. While it is true
that many children develop vicious
tendencies as scholars, it will be
found almost universally that their
moral home training is defective or
altogether lacking. A career of
vice is almost sure to follow the
practice of roaming the streets at
will after school hours and during
the evening, at first resulting in
truancy, then in incorrigibility and
that unrestraint in criminal practi-
ces that ultimately land the deprav-
ed youth or man in the workhouse
or penitentiary. Laws which would
prohibit the presence of children
and youth upon the streets after a
reasonable hour in the evening
would do much to repress this in
creasing evil, and with the appoint
ment Of an officer to look after
truants the tendency towards de-
moralization I'm this direction would
be measurabIy checked. Educa-
ton has REFRESHING influence upon