The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-10-12
Prevention Better Than Cure.
10 The EDITOR OF The NEWS:

10 The EDITOR OF The NEWS:
SIR-Those engaged in efforts TO pre-
vent poverty, vice and crime, receive but
little encouragement from the general
public 1t Is to be hoped that the promi-
pence now given to a recent statement OF
Hls Honor Judge Wilbur, TO the effect
that crime rs on the increase In this CON-
munity, will cause those VINO have been
Indifferent TO become interested.
The efforts being made to prevent and
lessen the evils mentioned should be Of
paramount interest, not only TO every
taxpayer and good citizen, but also to
the sociologist, philanthropist and
Christian. 1t also affects the welfare OF
every individual member OF society,
even those who regard only their own
selfish enjoyment, prosperity and exist
ence.
The bject demands instant and intelli-
gent consideration, and immediate action,
by citizens and legislators alike.
The moral and practical sentiment Of
the people must be awakened. 1t will
then be more easy to comprehend that 1t
Is cheaper, as well as easier to prevent
poverty, vice, and crime, than to take
care of paupers and criminals, and thus
efficient action will be more generally
taken in efforts CT a preventive nature.
The deformed and diseased in mind,
body and soul, ought not to be allowed
to disseminate social leprosy and moral
cancer with impunity.
Dugdale, in his study Of the Juke fam
lily, traces 1900 criminals and paupers I'M
pregnated with he blood of one ancestor,
in seven generations coasting the public
over 81, 800, 600.
We must find out what produces pow
erty, vice and crime, and direct our
efforts against II. We must adopt, IL
found necessary, heroic measures and not
hesitate to break up family If II is
curse 10 the community.
1t is said that the State Institutions at
Cranston are so full that more and larger
ones are called for.
BY carefully providing for its degcner-
ate and abnormsls In comfortable prisons
and asylums, giving them the advantages
of the highest knowledge and science of
living, society unwittingly aggravates
the evil II seeks to alleviate. 1t main
tains, also, those who would perish with
out its aid; Ii permits their reproduction
and multiplication; it fosters with more
attention tnan it gives its better types.
the establishment and increase OF an abb
normal and defective class. 1t not only
perpetuates by care, bat encourages by
unrestricted breeding-in among them,
the unnatural spread and growth of q So
clal gangrene of fatal tendencies.
At the head OF the great feeders of hu-
man want and misery, stands the liquor
saloon, the menace alike of good govern
ment. individual comfort, and national
pros per ity. Side by side with this evil
Is the vicious environment of many per-
sons in consequence of living In houses
where there are no facilities for religious,
moral, physical, or intellectual improve
ment-
There is many home where boy or
girl over IA would not think of passing
an evening unless compelled to do SO.
Think OF their coming home after hard
days work, the only sitting room half
filled with wash tubs, the baby crying,
the walls hung with the soiled clothes
and dressess of the family, the whole
place reeking with the smell of fat from
the hot stove, the table set with coarse,
broken china, strewn on q dirty board,
a kerosene lamp without shade, smoking
in the middle; Loaf Of bread and a pot
Of black, bitter tea or coffee
That is the scene which welcomes many
boy or girl just beginning to realize
how differently other people live. is 1t
strange that, at the first chance, they slip
out into the street beneath, glad, per-
haps, If they escape without a harsh
scolding or blow?
And what has the world outside to
offer them? A street or avenue lighted
by electricity with plenty Of young peo-
pie with whom to "carry on" without
intorerfence from father or mother; the
bright, warm saloon with every chance
OF pleasant companioDship and obedient
attendants; "moonlight" excursions
"down the river" or the tbeator and
Eance hall where all the trou ble OF life
Nah wv iois'ttch iNA u lew nOuIs III e4-
element and sin.
Is IL strange that when inquiry is
made for the son and daughter OF the
house the answer is often given, some
times with assumed indifference, "Ka-
ties not at home now; she's boarding;
we don't know where she IL. Father
licked her and she went away" Or,
Johnnie did something wrong and we
amt seen him since"
Too great emphasis cannot be given to
tho fact that the saloon is merely the ex-
preston Of the unconscious desire preva-
lent in most men, for the comfort to
BODY and mind offered by a warm, COM
fortably furnished and well-llgnted room.
| IL is not the liquor which gives the sa-
loon its chief attraction, but the conven-
fences and companonship found there.
AS long a. this is only offered in drink
Ing places. just so long will the saloon be