The prison mirror. [volume] (Stillwater, Minn.) 1887-1894, 1890-08-07
How Some Explain 1t.


Said judge recently. previous to pro-
nouncing sentence upon a gentleman of edu-
cation and culture convicted of embezzle-
ment:
Your talents, education, and surround
ings were such that you should have known
how to live an honest life. You have not
the excuse of the criminal who comes into
court without education and surroundings
which tend to abase him."
The Judge was right. The education of
the gentleman should have given him suffi-
cient moral force to resist temptation and
to keep himself from the degraded ranks of
criminals. The world looks for such strength
in him as truly as it expects good fruit from
we'll developed, carefully cultivated tree.
But how does the press treat his fall?
Under flaring head lines many of these
educators of the people" announce the crime
of the educated gentleman, mOralize little.
question the efficacy of the intellect in lead
ing to moral power, perhaps give spiteful
thrust at our educational methods, alleging
that they are wrong or, more definitely still,
that something is wrong somewhere, close
by. leaving the impression that education
has not as much to do in determining the
moral tone of a community as is placed to
its credit, and then leave the matter entirely
with the sef-satisfying consciousness that
they have done their duty.
Furthermore, sOciOlOgists. perhaps seek
ing to collate material in this line, COM
mence to figure out statistics as logical as
they can be when they beg the question,
and soon the world is again startled by the
announcement that all is wrong, and more
that nfh ,,rcf h0
Now these efforts no doubt are honest in
purpose; but both newspapers and sOciOlO
gists in making such stir over the crime
of an educated person proclaim the falsity
of their conclusive position. Their surprise
at the instance is the confession that it is
unlocked for, and without reason they begin
to censure both man and education.
Yet the gardener. when his carefully Gull
tlvated and we'll developed tree fails to give
him good fruit, does not Immediately find
fault with the method of cultivation that
has stood the test of time. He looks for
the worm that is gnawing at the heart of
his unrespOnsive fruit tree. and possibly he
may find its name "Heredity."
No; education is not at fault. The ignO-
rance that characterizes the large majority
of criminals excludes that theory. But
what it is that so blinds the moral vision of
man of education that he fails to see the
relationship of criniestO society or the con-
sequences of his contemplated crime. we
cannot explain. He who can point out the
cause, and. as we'll. indicate the means to
its suppression. will have most worthy
honor. In some no doubt the faint of hered.
ity creeps like destroying worm.
The judge was right: education should
teach better. Let not others say that edu-
cation is at fault. AS we'll attempt to prove
that the mariners compass does not prevent
shipwreck by citing instances where vessels
have been lost. although possessing the
magic needle. as that an education does not
prepare man to encounter successfully the
storms and temptations of life. because in
certain instances such has not been the case.
-Elmira Summary.
Tn nil hot hv-