The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-03-06
NEW FIELD FOR STUDENTS OF SOCIOLOGY.

1t Will be remembered that a few
weeks ago information concerning
White-capism was sought through the
Journal for the benefit of Mr.. James
Bryce, NJ. p, the English writer and
student of American institutions. In
making the inquiry he or his secretaries
were evidently laboring under the i'm
preston that White Caps were found
only in Indiana. If Mr.. Bryce wishes
further facts on the subject he will do
we'll to investigate the White capping
episode that has just occurred in the old
and presumably highly civilized State
OF Maine. In Indiana the attentions
of these self-constituted regulators
of other peoples affairs have usu-
ally been confined to men guilty
of cruelty to their families or i'm
moral conduct tending to damage the
tender sensibilities and reputation of
the neighborhood. In Maine the regu-
latOrs go further. Marriage is honorable,
but when an enterprising youth of twen-
ty won and welded a dame of seventy,
eighty or ninety years-estimates of a
woman's age differ even in Maine-and
brought her over from Ireland to grow
up in new country, the community
chose to feel itself outraged. Indignant
citizens rose, and fell upon that youth,
and battered him to such degree that
he is, at least temporarily, disabled.
That they did not belabor the bride also
was probably due to reverence for
her years. Perhaps contemplation
Of the unequal union would have
been less narrowing to their feelings
had it not been for the fact that the
elderly bride possessed considerable
money. 1t was felt by the interested
neighbors that their moral natures
would be deeply injured by the sight of
the husband in possession of his wife's
wealth, and in addition to physical
castigation of the man they are taking
steps to have the old lady placed under
guardianship, the guardian, of course,
TO handle the cash. Probably they
have not yet heard of the new Indian
apolis plan of appointing receivers for
other peoples property. When they
do the present White-cap methods
will be considerably simplifed and
the way made much easier for
the adjustment of their neighbors' bust
ness. Meanwhile, the unhappy BRIDE
groom languishes On O couch of pain,
and his mature spouse is not permitted
by the White Caps to draw her money
from the bank.
MIR. Bryce may be able to get some
valuable and interesting data from this
affair. 1t touches upon several social
and economic questions. After investi-
cation he may be able to inform the
world that in certain sections of the
United States, notably the oldest and
most closely settled, the marriage of q
woman of Seventy OF upwards" is likely
to cause On uprising of the populace.
He may also be able to explain whether
or not this uprising 10 due to the indig-
nation of that large number of unappro-
priated sisters found in New England
States or to other causes. He will also,
perhaps. touch upon the question of
the effect this forcible protest against
legal marriage may have upon marriage
In general in that community, and
whether the lives of young women who
wed aged and wealthy men will also be
in jeopardy. The conclusions to be
cleaned by q student of social questions
from a simple bouncing" and trouncing
of loafer or wife beaten by Indiana
White Caps are nothing to the posslbili-
ties offered by such cases as tho one re-
ported from that center of refinement
and intellectual culture, Amherst. The
wild and lanate West produces only the
plain, undecorated species of crank. 1t
is down East, where intcllects are
crowded, that they become so warped
that the variegated variety is seen in
perfection.