The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1890-01-18
AIDS TO MORALITY.
Every Timely Civilizing Influence Is Also
a Reforming One.

RefOTmInS Oncs
Many people imagine that the only
ways in which public and private NOR
atty can be improved are those definite
and direct methods which appeal at once
TO the conscience and the heart. Preach
ing and teaching, persuading and warn
ing, exhorting and encouraging are in
strumentalities worthy of all honor,
and those whose abilities qualify them
for such tasks should receive every pos
sible stimulus to exert them in so noble
a cause. But it is great mistake to
suppose that these are the only means
to promote morality. Every truly civil
izing influence is also reforming one.
BY this we do not mean that miscalled
civilization which multiplies wants and
increases luxury and develops refine
ment in few at the expense OF the
man., but that advancement Of mind
and of knowledge which is forever dis
closing better methods of living and
diffcsing them among the whole people.
DIR. Howard Crosby, president of the So
cietJ for the Prevention of Crime. in
New York, and who has had wide OPP
porsunities of observing the condition OF
morality in that city, has recently de-
clsred that the moral condition of New
York has vastly improved during the
p.st few years, and that fifty years ago,
although there was far less of tho
foreign element than there Is now, a
low condition of morality existed that
would not be tolerated at the present
time. What is true of New York in
this respect is equally true of our
other cities, and If there be any pes
simist who points to the well-known
corruption and vices which still exist as
a REPUTATION of this statement, we would
remind him that the very fact that such
things are now brought to the light,
discussed, and condemned, is proof
that they are on the decline. When a
community is deeply sunk in immor-
atty. little or no comment is made on
the fact. When we come to seek into
the causes of this improvement we
shall find that among the most promi-
nent are the practical results of scien-
tific progress and the civilizing tenden-
cies of the age. There is no question
that dirt, disease and darkness are prev
alent sources of vice and crime, and
whatever influences are brought to bear
against them will also press heavily
against immortality. The increasing
value set upon health, as shown alike in
sanitary laws and regulations and in the
greater willingness manifested by the
community to understand and ADOPT
hygienic modes of life, is beyond dis
pute. The improvements in house
building and drainage; the introduction
of water, pure and plentiful; the free
admission of fresh air; the better sys
TENS OF ventilation; the brilliant light
ing up of our city streets-all contribute
to the prevention of crime and to tn,
spread of higher type of morality,
while increasing the health, peace ant
comfort Of the community. And wheI
to all these we add the better ant
wider education given to the risinI
generation than was thought possibl
fifty years ago, we shall find abundan
reason for the moral advancement which
has been made. There are som
persons who feel quite powerless to he'll
on the cause of reform or to improve tn
moral character Of single individual
because they have no gift for infiuenc
ing men by direct appeal. They have
perhaps tried and failed, and so, al
though they would like to do some goo
in the world, they are hopeless of an
success. Let such take courage as the
remember how many indirect, yet mos
offectual, methods there are Of accom-
plishing this end. Let them look owe
the multitudes of civilizing agencie
that are silently working in the inter
ests of morality, and attach themselve
to such as most heartily engage thei
interest. Every intelligent individua
must be in sympathy with some of then
and it is just there that his services ar
needed and will be most valuable. Nc
let him make the mistake of supposin
that he is thus working upon lower Q
inferior plane. 1t is in works of benevt
lence and reform, just as in all othe
kinds of work-that which a man can
best is the very best thing for him to d,
So, il one man is interested in sanitar
schemes and another in evening schools
If one is anxious for free libraries an
another for free parks; If one can hel
to secure good roads and clean stree,
and another can aid in protecting chi
dren or dumb animals from ill-treatmen
let each be assured that in such exc
tions he is doing his share in promotin
morality and in elevating character 8
surely and as effectually as those who's
peculiar province it is to teach or [
preach, to admonish or to advise.-Phi
adelphia Ledger.
The Turks and the Crescent.
The crescent was not originally a
u - Al Ia a