The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-10-25
RURAL CRIME,
Causes and Remedies as Seen by One oi
Our Readers.

. our hcHucrs'
Editor the Reformer:
Sir | was interested in II recent ed
itorial in your paper referring to thu
large number of criminal cases before
the present term of court ut Newfanc,
and to seeming increase in crime anc
immortality in the country and state.
In spite of the generally accepted
opinion that 1.-THE world grows better
growing old, " il is apparent to one
who takes the trouble to look at Tho
matter fairly that there is an alarming
amount of crime and immortality among
us. This is only too apparent to one
who has attended court at Newfane
and listened to the amount and brazen
character of immoral testimony that
has been evolved there. This has not
been confined to any one case but to
civil, state and divorce cases, and
there will be considerable more of it
before the completion of the present
| term.
This is spoken of as an epidemic OF
crime, and it would seem as if this eX-
preston was accepted generally as
sufficient explanation. But there is Il
potent cause for every effect. Our leg
islators and law makers should see the
necessity for seeking the causes of
these evils and take measures to Grad
ticatc them. Preventive legislation is
much more valuable than punitive.
Our laws are inadequate and do not
deal at all with matters of vital i'm
portance to the social purity of the poo
pie.
In the first place we should find
means for education and not let igno-
rance lurk behind the vel of modesty.
To listen to divorce case after divorce
case is but to impress one that our dl-
rorce laws are too lcnicnt and cncour-
ayers of immortality In cases of cruel
ty. adultery and desertion. the guilty
parties should he punished by imprison
ment and fine, and in many cases they
should be prohibited from marrying
again.
There is an increasing tendency to
shirk responsibilities, that for various
reasons is prevailing our social fabric.
Prepostcrous as the idea would be said
to be by many, all able bodied and
competent persons should he compelled
to marry before the age of %, under
penalty of heavy fine, and others
should be prohibited from doing so.
Another feature which has its effect
on society is an attitude assumed by
women toward men. | do not say this
of all women but it is noticeable never
theless There are many women who
fail to treat a man with common cour
tesy, decency or respect. Their man
ncr and action implies that they dis
trust and do not respect him. This at
titude is a standing insult t. man. No
woman with wOmanly bearing and com /
mon sense need fear harm from man.
She may go alone and unattended .
among them. If one such woman should /
receive harm all men are by instinct .
her avengers. Yet great many women .
appear to have no clear conception of /
this or of their duties or responsible .
ties.
The tendency of the times is to be-
little marriage. belittle man and things |
Of true value. and then be surprised |
1T the increase of crime and immoral
lty, To recapituatc, we should seek
better education on questions OF NOR
atty people should be severely pun
lshed for creating causes for divorces,
should be encouraged among
all except criminal and incompetent
classes, woman should accept and re
'pect men as their rightful guardians
md protectors, marriage should be
leld in its true light and Importance,
md man and mankind uplifted. In
hese ways only can we have better
people and better society. /,
These observations are not made from
he standpoint of that very large class ;
# people who shun and ignore Grimm
ls and deem it sufficient if they may (
My be put in prison. But | think | i
m right in believing that we each are |
ntitled to our share of responsibility ,
or them.
i Il Il