Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-09-20

complishment that doubtless would be
effective, but its execution is surrounded by
difficulties, philoprogenitiveness,t the love of
filthy lucre and that of the sexes for each
other standing in the way. While the doc
tors plan would be effective beyond q
doubt, and would in course of century OBJ
viate the necessity of penitentiaries, aims
houses and insane asylums if effectively put
into operation, it is extremely doubtful
whether modern degeneracy possesses the
Spartan fortitude necessary to continue in
well doing on the line he draws.
But phrenology or craniology has at last
conquered place for itself and has been
recognized as a science, and instead of rest
ing, as most phrenologists do, on the hope
of developing certain tendencies and re-
pressing others by cultivation of the moral
organs, why not develop the good by hand
and repress the bad by the same means?
The Caribs of the West Indies had no crani-
oscopic school that we know of, yet these
anthropophagi formed the character of their
offspring by developing their skulls in the
"way in which they should go"-that is,
the way the parents wished them to go. 1t
is probable they developed the animal and
depressed the moral sentiments, and it
is certain they were more successful in their
enterprise than was the author of "The
Theory of the Moral Sentim ents," who
sought to establish his views by argument.
The young Carib took to war and cannibal-
ism as naturally as young duck does to
water. A young Carib's brain while in the
plastic state, and when the skull could be
indented at pleasure, was fashioned accord
ing to certain tribal regulations and the
consequence was that all adolescent Caribs
were animated by the same desires and
passions and there was homogeneity, if not
=, nd f1d
with but a single thought insured tribal
peace, if not progression.
MADE CRIMINAL BY AN ACCIDENT.
If be true that "the worst use you can
put man to is to hang him." why not
fashion his brain SO that hanging will be
unnecessary, and make the Fitzsimmonses,
id omme genus, good citizens and not mur-
derers? It was contended by Moore and
Swartzwelder that Ortwein's moral OBJ
liquity was caused by the kick of a horse In
his youthful days, and Mr.. Marion states
that acrescent-shaped fracture was distinctly
traceable on his skull, possibly developing
more than one evil propensity as Mr..
Marion still holds to the belief that the
murder of the entire Hamnett family and
the burning of their residence was for the
purpose of hiding a more atrocious crime.
As soon as the shape OF babes head 1s
determined a skillful phrenologist should
be called in and he should locate the bumps
which need cultivation and those needing
repression. A cast should then be taken
of the shape of head wanted If veneration
were needing enlargement and combative-
ness elimination, etc., the requirements
should be noted in the cast and when
shape was gotten that would insure perfect
mental and moral developement, unyield-
ing headgear should be made with the
necessary indentations and depressions
and the child's head fitted into it and
kept there until it had taken on the
shape for proper developement. Thus
the propensities could be made an
each other until harmonious
whole were formed. Courage would be
by caution, parental love by firm
ness and undue veneration by large reason
ing power You see all these attributes are
in the skulls of all infants, even those of
idiots, and balanced mind is one where no
one has undue preponderance.
A KNOCKOUT FOR POETS.
It is true this system might have tend
ency to deprive our offspring of individu-
ality and produce mediocrity, but if it re-
suited in the destruction of evil and made
useless penitentiaries, reform schools, aims
houses and insane asylums for present pur-
poses, the sacrifice Of brilliancy ought to be