Daily Republican., 1888-03-13
THE Down wARD ROAD.

We are bound 10 believe that in the
great majority CT cases In which
crime Ia the business OF Lie, this mega.
tive choice has been made. The
criminal drifted into II.
In professions and In business one
sees fair proportion Of cases where
ease and honor In old age reward the
toiler. But 1t Is rare thing 70 see q
nice villa occupied bv retired bur-
glar or pickpocket. Even forgers are
not often known to spend q happy,
green old age among the companions
of their early years and labors.
There are professional persons who
do not make fortunes, but they have
an offset TO comparatively slender
means in the love and respect Of their
fellows. 1t Ii SO with literary men. 1t
Is said Of them, with honest pride:
''They are clever, or acute, or
learned. or brilliant, or charming"
But there is no laurel Tor the crimi-
nails brow, no ''glory" about his
head.
The impression that 1t is the vigor-
ous-minded that 90 into crime 10 not
sustained; and where exceptional tai.
emit was shown In plan or execution,
the same lawfully used would have
accomplished more than could be
gained in the chosen path of crime.
even If 1t had not been invaded by the
police.
Rogucs, swindlers and cheats are
not, as rule, so strong drained AZ
their fellows. Often they are exces
sively stupid.
Notwithstanding the fine maxim
''Honor among thieves" q criminal
misses this compensation"
Corrupt himself, he Is at the mercy
of the corrupt. His partnerships are
singularly insecure.
The partner "peaches," or ''sells''
his associate, or quarrels with him.
and fearing his own betrayal, gets lid
of the dangerous knowledge by q
treacherous stab or Q well-simed pls.
toll shot; or, which is rare, he relents
sincerely, or, which is common, he
buys contemplate safety by turning
states evidence,
In some lines of life, one may miss
encouragement from mans applause,
but yet have good substitute in the
peace Of their own hearts, and the ap.
proval of their own consciences.
But the criminal has not this innei
spring of life. Not on good terms
with himself, he plunges into drink OIL
other form of debRsement to get rid OIL
himself.
No wonder that criminals, as a rule,
are short lived. And even where con
science is dead, is drugged, or in sui
len silence is making up q horrible
record to be produced on tho day o
retribution, fear is often active. Nor
than once have criminals owned tina
even the disgrace Of discovery was |
relief from the inner torture Of con
cealment.
Could the tempted, who are waver
ing between homely virtue and flarint
crime, only look into the dens O
squalor, darkness, disease, and dissi
patton in which crime hides Itself
must needs bury itself-they woul
waver no longer.
That poor creature sauntering abou
in snowy dress may seem an enviabl
woman to the hard working sean
stress or the poorly.paid assistant; br
II you could only see the tyranny owe
her of another criminal, older an
worse than she is-the dirt, disorder
and unwomanly striies in which niue
of her life drags itself out if 20
could only conceive of half the name
less humiliatlons of which she Is tn
helpless victim, often making tn
river bed the only bed that offers resi-
If you could only see this, and thing
like this, you would hate yourself 70
even moments dream in favor o
vice and crime.
We say, therefore, 10 all boys think
ing of what they will do with them
selves, to all readers of both sexe
weighing the question:
"How are we to get onP"
| Keep the broad highway, and nevs
allow yourself to deviate from ths
path Of rccitude.
You may be poor, over worked, II
paid, little noticed, with no prospects
But for your body's sake, you
minds sake, for the sake OF the pref
, ent and Of the future, do not part wit
the anchor of houest purpose; anC
, however greatly you may be entice
toward 1t, venture not upon tn
seemingly smooth and pleasant, b
really rugged and dangerous dow
ward road.