The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-01-23

them as an ordinary healthful person
is moved by these things. Neither men
tai nor physical pain or pleasure holds
or interests them, when conveyed to
them by ordinary methods. In the de-
sire to live. the spontaneous effort to
express themselves and to acquire emo
ton, they commit eXcesses. The death
of a friend by ordinary means Goes not
cause them a reasonable amount of re-
gfet. To kill a friend may at least di-
Vert them-giNe them something to
think of-flatter that egotism which is
and confer on them the feeling OF power
for which they yearn and which they
have not the capability IL acquire by
Virtuous means.
Such murders as are committed by
conspifators are almost certain to be the
acts of persons not properly belonging
10 the criminal classes. These criminals
stay those who oppose their fanaticism,
whatever IL may be. They see In their
victim the oppressor of the rights Of
others. the traitor who desaoys domes-
tic happiness. OF the enemy 10 his cOui.
try. They Kill with delibera.ion, hay
ing a motive. ana their crimes may be
considered as crime pure and simple.
The crime of a degenerate is 4 mich
more serious problem 10 tn SfIsr. lie
who commits it may belong. and fse-
quently does. to a class which Is with
u0i SuIititHl lDIif u bf ShbJtNl ~ IT,
formation. IL Is not Xix ly that moral
sense can be awakened in such. NJ
reformatory SURROUNDINGS viii have Of
feet. Such a creature Is liable az any
moment 10 be seized with a curiosity
concerning crime and To commit 1t 10
crafty that curiosity. His wandering.
idle. miserable brain is the creature of
each hayward thought: his Will is a
broken and abjeet thing which never as
sefts itself. Such man is liable. for
example. sitting among his family. to
be seized with an obcession.
If | were To put some poison in the
coffee" he thinks 10 himself, lis il likely
that ii would act Immediately? Would
they taste the poison If ! We're to mix il
with ehicory? Would they suspect me?
Shall | also drink the poisoned coffee2
And II we all died. what would people
Think"
Once am idea Of this sort gets in rot
ten brain il eats like maggot-only the
ideas which enter are likely 10 be much
more horrible than this one. and the
AFFECT creature who entertains them
amuses himself for months. perhaps.
building these loathSOme castles in the
air. picturing hideous scenes. which
have for him all the fascination of a
drama. and which indeed come finally 10
be so aliuring that the reality which he
presently enacts is tame by comparison.
Many murders are committed on inn
pulse. Weak nerves. excessive irritable
ity and depression OF spirits, resulting
ether from debauchery o. from mere
monotony Of living. cause the criminal
n act excessively in retaliation for some
annoyance. little too much blood
rushes 70 the weak brain, there is a mad
moment n brutal qualification. the de-
sire 10 shoot or knife or strike i IN
dulged. with all the vicious pleasure
which comes from an Indulgence in
anger. and the deed i committed de-
generates Of this class, however. usually
feel q rem0FSe which completely pros
tlateS them. Ne diseased egotism sus-
tains them. They are not among those
who play 10 an audience. They look
/ upou themselves with contempt. abhor
] existence and sink into apathy
Degenersey among the aftectionate
and the moral. however. is becoming
| frighttullN frequent. Suicides are com
mitted by the old because men and