The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1896-02-13
reo.so., S1.OO per year, in advance
'e""o' Six Months ID cents.

figure. as in LombrosO's autopSles for
meningitis. the large proportion is pre-
found in only the worst crim-
inals who have perhaps been hanged
and their bodies judicially turned over
to the medical examiners. Lombroso,
as rule, limited his studies to the
''born criminal
These proportions are entirely TOO
small and they differ too little from
those Of normal persons, or else the OBJ
servations have been too limited, to
furnish ground for the heredity theory.
In the second place many Of the ab-
normalities may be the result of educa-
tion rather than of heredity. This, OF
course. is not true of the ear. the cheek
bone, color of hair and other rigld
physical characteristics, but 1t may b0
true of the physical and moral sensi-
blities, the intelligence, the physlogno-
my, the glance of the eye, the gestlcu-
lation, the wrinkles, lung and heart
diseases and sexual abnormalltles.
These are also the most significant
marks of criminality, rather than the
ineradicable cheek-bOne and ear
The whole matter turns on the cir
cumstances of infancy Every child,
before reaching distinct conscious
ness, is more or less cruel by nature.
That is, it has no appreciation OF the
feelings of others, including dogs and
cats. But in good homes, with refined
surroundings, this cruelty is educated
out of the child, and at the very dawn
ing of consciousness respect fer tne
feelings of others is Insblled. PhySlcal
insensiblity. too, depends on whether
q child has been reared in warm home
or on the streets. Intelligence Is a
matter of early circumstances ana
:, readiness on the part OF elders TO an
swer the child's questions. The we'll
recognized absence OF curiosity ana m
tejlicence on the part of criminals may
be the result of the perennial suppress
sion of their natural powers instead or
> suppression may go 50 tar as TO pro-
y duce actual idiots is shown by the au-
= thentlcated story of the Emperor AK
bar, who caused thirty children TO be
brought up together i'll confined place
under the care of nurses and guardians
D. who were enjoined to keep absolute
silence, under penalty of death. The
% children imprisoned IN this way grew
ND. and became, as was natural, DUMP
20 and absolutely stupid, having no other
language at their command than a
'o few gestures, to express their bodily
. wants.
n. That heredity is accountable Iof
y share of criminal deeds is probably
true. lust as heredity accounts tol
: idiocy and deaf -mutsm. Heredlty OF
., course is final, for born idiot can never
become intelligent. But probably les
~ than five per cent. of the population O.
all ages can be classed as degenerate
~ from birth, including all the feeble
minded, deaf-mute, epileptic and Grim
-. inal. Possibly also five per cent. an
lv above the average and they should o
ISS classed as the geniuses. the Dor
nt prophets and seers and organizers, "h
&C could overcome all obstacles an
nj achieve eminence irrespective OF socls
nd condition. The remaining ninety Pc
cd cent. are born with ordinary physlca
o. intellectual and moral equipment
nor they are neither good nor bad, Grimm;
no. nor virtuous, brilliant nor stupl
IN With these masses of the people con
20, posing the great majority IN all cond
nd tions of life, the first ten years OF Il
;ac fancy and childhood are all determl
,ts ing. If they are saved or lost, Grimm
ner or upright, their homes primarily, al
of society ultimately are responsible
TOR Their future is determined by educ
20 tion and opportunity. r. Common
mt in Minneapolis Kingdom.