The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-10-30


Prison Sunday was observed at the
First Methodist church last evening by
two special addresses upon 1.-THE Sub
merged Tenth, or the Criminal Popula-
tionSHahy DIR. C. E. Riggs and DR.. Helen
w. .Bissell.
Viewing the subject from the stand
point of an expert, DR.. Riggs stated that
environment and heredity were the two
powerful factors in creating and devel-
oping a criminal element. There was
no such thing as. a. criminal brain,
despite the repeated attempts of experts
to prove the contrary. At recent meet
ing of neurologists the brain Of a low
type negro had been placed alongside
that of q distinguished attorney and no
one present was able to make distinc-
ton between the two; in fact, some made
the blunder to take the Negroes for the
attorneys. The development Of the
psychic traits has all to do with the
making of criminal asserted DR..
RiggsgssssIn every person there are GER
tain stigma, traits of degeneracy, which
ffdeEeIoped either make sae criminal or
idiot-4sA llss depends on heredity and en-
yifnnnent, espseially the latter. There
lSSSQcL d IHfIlS% me lflGFllaDle CrlLllHdl,
but he Is the great exception. By this
Isnfean the man whom punishment does
notEaffeet and ttp es9Ss whom there is no
chancex Of n1aking an impression. He is of
the same clement that led that boy down
In Iowa eo skiH his father and grand
father because he was refused some
trivial thing. You ask what are we to
do. with this kind Of criminal. All
can say is that we can safely leave him
T., all ~ y,
If we see that he is kept where he can
do no harm.
THE next class of crirninaris the hope
full class. 1t can be said in a scientific
way that every man has his price. A
bar Of steel will bear a certain test, but
it has breaking point SO 1t Is with
individuals. This principle applies to
every one, except that it differs in each
person. The comparison can be made
Of the boy who is reared in a Christian
home by Christian mother with good
line Of ancestry and the child of the
slums whose heredity Is bad and whose
every surrounding is of degrading ma
ture Each represents different grades
of society, but the same principle APP
plies. Civilized people make the mistake
of trying to get away from the slums.
This is a mistake. 1t has been proven
that this same child of the slums If
into the sunshine, with strong moral in
fuences and good food, will become
strong man morally and physically. Then
again, If the other extreme is suited to
the conditions Of the slums the bad en-
vironment works the same disastrous re-
suits as on the child born Of a degenerate
parentage. Environment Is frequently
q greater influence than heredity. An
example can be taken in the case Of
i, oil Soma
very worst foreign eelment came to cur
shores, yet through the religious and
moral surroundings they were made our
best citizens. If it were not for the
uplifting and sustaining influences of en-
vironment of the Christian faith and of
homes our stigmatic 'propensit1es would
sweep away our best intentions
Dr. Helen W. Bissell in her remarks
celled special attention to the need of
an institution for reformation of women
In this state In Massachusetts she held
a position as assistant physician in an
institution where 500 women We're conf1n-
ed. Last year the institutions record
showed that ISL of these women had been
placed in good homes and were living re-
spectacle, chaste lives, and out of the
number but one proved unworthy Of con-
ffdence. When the women first come to
the institution in very few cases We're
arts. In fact, many were unable to do
any of the ordinary duties of the house
hold. When they come out they are fit
ted for all kinds of home work, and are
thus made Independent.
"In this state we have absolutely MOTH
ing" continued DR.. Bissell. 'in the way
Of an institution for women, and 1t Is not
likely that we will have until a consti-
tutional amendment Is made. Under the
existing laws the judges cannot sentence
a woman for more than ninety days. and
that is far too short a time to accomplish
reformation. What can be done is to
look after the children in these families.
Our friendly visitor, finds many cases
where mothers are entirely untitled for
the responsibilities Of family. and have
no knack for any kind of household work
These visitors do a great deal of good.
In the absence of any aid from the state
let us give our sisters a chance"