New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-03-02
ORGANIZED COMlION SENSE.
JOHN GRAHAM BROOKS TALKS on "C1RCUM-
STANCES AS THE CAUSE OF POVERTY"

JOHN GRAHAM BROOKS TALKS on "CIRCUM-
STANCES As THE CAUSE OF POVERTY"
John Graham Bro1ks's lecture az the Berkeley Ly
ceum yesterday morning dealt with what he called
zone OF the toughest problems that the human IN
tellect had ever touched" namely, circumstances
a the cause of poverty"
There are two distinc. ways OF looking at this
question" the lecturer said. the indyidualstic and
the sociastic one class % social reforners insists
that character Is everything and persists in spite OF
circumstances and another maintains that character
is the product OF circumstances This IS largely
matter % temperament, and those born with the
qualities that make a Socialist an indvidualist
VIII retaia that mental attitude to the end Of time.
one should not complain o. them try 20 change
them bu. let each work in his own way. for both
are right;
mo doub. circumstances have much TO DO with
the drink passion for instance, and you often hear
II said that mer wont stop drinking till they are
properly fed but wha, causes the drinking in clubs?
These men are well fed and well housed ami in
every way situated just the Socialist would have
them; yet they drink
suit u circumstance. but have ampla proof that
a large part OF IL is. The Gothenburg system Of
dealing with the drink question has reduced he con-
sumption OF liquor One-half. Simply by removing cir
cumstances thar cOnduced 20 IL, and since the alleys
Of Glasgow We're lighted there mas peen marked
decrease In all varieties Of petty theyng. The light
has beer as s}94 an policeman so,o,b,
M9itoVe,' c'rcHi H zines are SoHet h.nB oNcr
ough, TO be studied with what Huxley calls organ
Zad cOmmOn-sense.' We can alte- these things. and
say that cannot + simply not 10 know what has
been done l. Is only necessary for society 20 It's
strength. but yet II has never done so, while Il
has allowed least four-hfths OF X to oe consumed
IN what call social duties
The lecturer said further that al the efforts
that now being put forth in the direction cf So
cial reform based this view Of the Influence
OF circumstance: and in this connection ne men
toned the attempts that are being made in All grea,
cities give the poor decent dwellings and also the
reform Of the prison system. which mas cuninateI
In Splendid institutions like that Of Elmra' whore
all the external circumstances that formerly sur
rounded tie criminal have been changed.
Mr.. Brooks vii continue this subject his next
lecture 10 be given on Friday afternoon. beginning
az 80 o'clock. al the Berkeley Lyceum.
Il announced yesterday morning that al the
conclusion Of the present the lecturer WOuld
give another. consisting OF four talks The Real
Meaning Of Scotia. Reform" The Older WAY u
Looking az the Question The Newer Wav OF
Looking AZ the Question" and The Real Issue OF
Poverty
The talks will be given on four successive Satar-
day evenings beginning March IS. the first three 4,
the home OF Mrs. John J. While ir. No 1903 Ia
Thirty-scventh-st. and the last the home ~ Mrs.
J Warren Goddard Information may be- obtained
from Mrs. White, No % Eas, Fif,y-seventh-st