The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1895-10-17

to heaven, telling God where we are.
We preach and pray that God will save
the young men. We anathematize the
saloon, then we lock our church door
seven days out of the week, except
about five hours on Sunday, while the
saloon-keeper gives them hearty well
come every day, and night, too, with
a free lunch if they are hungry. Here,
too, is thought for the reformer, the
good citizen, for all. We have fine
public school buildings; built at great
cost, by the people. But they are open
only for a certain class, and certain
hours of the day Against the young
men, and at evening, they are closed.
When l consider the young men in our
cities, with absolutely no provision for
the wants of their social nature, eX-
cept that which is vicious and immoral,
my wonder is, not that so many are
criminals, but SO few. We cannot
compete with these places, simply be-
cause we have never seriously tried to
compete with them. This is not idle
sentiment. | am not laboring under
the notion that our criminals are poor,
! innocent victims, instead of bad sim
ners. Not at ALL | have had too
much experience with men in prison,
and out of it, too. | am simply rest
ing on what is today the teaching of
the best educators and social scientists,
and experience, that environment is
prime factor in the foundation of
character. If society provides only a
vicious environment, she will develop
vicious characters. If healthy envi-
ronment, she will develop healthy char
acters.
Here is where | would set up my
barrier. | would erect counter at
traction. | would provide places of
resort for recreation, amusement, social
intercourse, and self-improvement.A All
pervaded by a healthy, physical and
moral atmosphere. | would make
them attractive. Not, using the Ian
guage of the street, too 'tony." This
is the difficulty with most of our read
ing rooms, and Young Mems Chris
tian Association rooms. They are too
fine, or refined and aristocratic. They
are all right for the more cultured
class of young men, but not for the
great mass of them. The cOnSe-
quence is, the majority of young men
avoid these places. PiOus souls mourn
over the depravity Of human nature,
when the ''depravity'' is nothing more
than want of culture or esthetic taste
| would build on lower plan of es-
thetics; a more popular style, neat
attractive and with an air of freedom
everywhere. Something after the style
of the London Polytechnic school
founded by Mr.. Quintius Hogg. Also
the Peoples palaces Of London. With
, gymnasiums, reading rooms, rooms
. for various harmless and pleasant
, games; halls for concerts, lectures, de-
bates, night schools, industrial schools
, for young men and women: in short, a
, school, industrial, technical and socia
where young men and young women
, can meet for instruction, amusement
= and social intercourse, in an atmosphere
, pure and morally bracing.
: The church of Jesus Christ shoulC
lead in this work. 1t is time for the
3 church to learn that unproductivt
!. capital in the kingdom of heaven is as
: unwise as unproductive capital in tht
Y things of this world. She should in
t vest less in stone, brick and NOR
|. tar, and more in flesh and blood. Bet
: ter take down the steeple, dispens'
4 with some ornamentation, build plaine
:, and cheaper, that she may be able als'
b to build here at the branching of tn
) ways, along which young men are jour
e neying to honor or to dishonor. Blu
,. to the state, including of course tn
s municipality, belongs this work es
d pecially. 1t is the duty of the state t.
l. protect itself. The best protection
h always the kind to be sought. /
n school teacher is a better protecto
II than a policeman; a school-house
# than penitentiary. These polytech
p mic schools or peoples palaces, or ca