The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-11
rhetoric, The Elements, much to the de

docs not really attempt more than clear
ing the ground for the wiser study of
Sociology, by showing-as did the meta
physician Locke-what Is and what is not
u proper subject upon whirh "the human
understa nding" can usefully exercise It's
powers. For MIR. Pay son has apparently
arrived at tho same conclusion rs that
reached by Miss Jane Adams OF Hull
HOUSE, Chicago. who says in a recent
article IN The Atlantic Monthly: 1--WE
say that our charity Is too scientific, but
We should doubtless be much more correct
in our estimate II we said that IL Is not
scientific enough. Nor is there danger OF
the elimination of human feeling by such
scientific study. Collecting data In
sociology mny mean sorrow and perplex-
ity just as truly as collecting data In re-
gard to the fora o. tie equatorial regions
means heat and scratches and the test OF
ones endurance. The great danger lies
In the other direction. A man
who would hesitate to pronounce an orin-
ion upon the stones lying by the wayside
will without moments hesita-
ton dogmatize about the delicate prob
lens Of human conduct and will assert
that one man is scoundrel and another
an honorable gentleman, without In the
least considering the ethical epochs TO
which the two belong"
This is exactly the position of MIR.
Psyson. He believes that the time has
come for sociology to leave the vague and
misty regions of speculation and idealism
in which 1t too long has tsrried. and re-
sort to the study Of more practical. II
apparently a humber, range of facts.
And here, he would very Loyalty, II not
wholly, contne him self to the observation
OF physical facts. Without in any way,
cutting oneself off from super-sensible
iaeas--the "exultations. agonies, and
love and mans uncomfortable mind,
he would, for the present have students
OF sociology oonflne them elves TO the OBJ
servation of such incontrovertible facts as
heredity, environment, the physic eiu'
cation of the young and all that goes
toward making material well-baing,
knowing that out of such normal sur
roundings shall blossom the fair flowers
of ideal purity and goodness. Mr.. Pay
sons position Is well indicated in the fol-
lowing passages 1.-The fact or reality
which is suggested as the basis of soeiol-
ogy is the ordinary. everyday. common
sense reality, the phenomena of things
and actions as they appear TO us In daily
life under Investigation. analysis or use.
1t is In the world OF fact in which we re-
side and with which We deal. and con-
cerning phenoniena OF that world, that
this science is proposals. science of sensi-
BILE phenomena. not philosophy OF
things in themselves.
10 establish the wisdom of such phil
osophy-one based on faots-and evs n
physioal facts--rather than mere ideas or
notions without "correlatives in fact, "
the author makes careful and extremely
acute study of the development OF Ian
puage, which he convincingly proves 20
have had It's origin In sensation OF some
sort-not falling back, as In the deriva-
ton of the word CONSCIOUSNESS" upon
the famous thesis of Descartes. Il think.
therefore am, an extraordinary bit of
reasoning In circle--and also OF the
nature of punishment for crime which
certainly, ut FIRST started not win the
idea of the criminals moral intent, but
with the crime as u sensible fact, Tor
which. Us bloou for blood, an exact equiv
alent must be demanded. Ii Is part oi
our modern suhtlety and hair-sphttinP
that we have entered too much into the
lnree realm of motive and intent IN
crime, have not sufficiently taken up the
ply steal causes Of orime-the degeneracy
of The In iSiduai through bad heredlty
and unfortunate environment to which -
as physical facts that can BIO studied and
improved We should have given our at
tention.
In these pages, though there is much
that specially appeals to the lawyer, there
are also some very telling passages for
| 1.-THE general reader" in regard to the sure
DEVELOPMENT Of the criminal from con-
ditions which ought never to have exist
ed. Although the author evidently
avoids anything like fine writing" oil
an appeal to the emotions there are many
sentences of condensed earnestness which
strike home not the less surely for theii
Quiet self restraint. On the subject Of
educ alton, Mr. Pay son of course, confines
himself chiefly to tie training of the child
as physical organism, fitted for its en-
yironment, a normal and healthy temple
| for the und mind and benevolent spi II
Education has thus as its purpose "tl 1
heaIthful exercise of all the owe whci
sside in and emanate from the brain al
the ryan of thought ana reason - Begin
ming with the physic i organism, thu
child is gradually fluied,' ike perfect
music unto noble worus,' to take hi
place, beneiiciently and harmonioasly, IN
universe which needs mis- highest ssr-
vice.
We have contented ourselves with CIV
ing but the bArest outline of Mr.. Fayson'
plan and purpose. Many quotation
might be made u show his felicity o
Illustration and the acuteness of hi
reasoning. Occasionally, as must almost