The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1897-03-11
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siderable satisfaction to many in prison
the idea of "getting back on some
body The outraged feelings caused
by confinement, a disagreeable task,
reprimand, or punishment, are wooed
to sweet repose by the thought that
somebody will have to pay for this"
There are many who are thoroughly
satisfied in their own minds that there
is no money in crooked work; still they
feel that they have been wronged and
naturally they wish to square them
selves-"one more trick and 1 will
quit" Now is it wise to allow revenge
to influence judgment? A criminal
has been beaten at his own game. He
may have skillfully played his cards,
but he has made at least one mistake.
That particular error he may never
commit again. But how many other
mistakes has he committed any one of
which would have landed him here?
Take your own "trick,' reader, what
ever it may have been, and you will
see that there were many ways in
which it was possible for you to have
been detected. In crooked work what
ever is possible is very likely to occur.
AnalyZe it carefully and you will see
that there is many a link in safety's
chain. 1t requires man of marked
ability to be a successful thief, for he
is playing against tremendous odds.
Society is organized. 1t possesses
wealth and power. At its command
are all the resources of science. On its
pay roll are at least some shrewd de-
tectiyes. For its own preservation it
must protect itself 1t is the enemy of
the criminal. Which will win? Look
at the question from the standpoint of
the almighty dollar.
Then there is another question to be
considered d-keeping the money. EASY
comes, easy goes," is what we all know.
Why this is so is needless to inquire.
Experience teaches that truth. Take
the most successful criminal of your
acquaintance, have you not often seen
him ''broke?'
The great majority of men never
commit crime. All fear the peniten-
tiary. Some dread punishment in a
life they believe will come beyond the
grave. Fear in both cases. In other
words, they think they will lose more
ho
man who lives an upright life for the
sake of personal honor. How many
men are there who would not commit
crime if they knew there was abso-
lutely no chance of ever being detected?
Particularly if the injured party could
we'll bear the loss. There are some,
there may be many. These are the
men to be trusted; others have their
price.
Whatever may be the reasons which
induce honest people to live as they do,
it is, for them, sufficient reason. Why
not for us. Upright people have judg-
ment as we'll as others. When the great
majority of men live honestly there
must be some powerful reason there
for. Whatever criminal may say,
however tough he may be, there is not
one who would not joyfully say:
"Place me once more at the crossroads
of life" That can never be. The
record of the past is written for eter-
nifty. 1t cannot be changed. The fu.
ture is the realm of hope.
Ask yourself: "Can afford to con-
tinue in life of dishonesty?" Yes, or
no; you will reap the harvest, whatever
it may be. You have friends, you may
have true friends; but after all in the
great battle of life it is every man for
himself. This is right: it is natural.
Upright or dishonest, successful or un-
successful, your final destiny concerns
no one more than it does yourself.
A. G. r.