The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-03-25


The Criminal. His Personnel and En-
viroumeut." is work by August D.ahms.
! resident chaplain of the California State
Prison. at san Quentin. There is brief
introduction by Cesare Lombro-o, Who ex-
presses his pleasure that the authors in
yesuratious agree so nearly with his own
views. and endorses the work vita con
siderable enthusiasm
The first chapter contains q general sur
vey Of the philosophy Of crime. its his
tory and causes This is followed by dis
cussion Of criminal identification and type,
and Of instructive and habitual criminals,
their origin, environment. and character
istics. This takes up more than half the
book Then follow statements as to the
increase and decrease OF crime: the prob
lem Of the juvenile offender is considered.
and the author touches Oh hypnotism. and
its relation TO eyii-dOiug. concluding with
an expression of his views on the punish
ment, cure, and prevention Of crime.
Nothing. in This age Of the world, is OF
more general interest than the criminal
problem. Jt is only within a compare
lively recent period that il has been
studied scientifically. and the chances are
that during the next two or three genera
lions IL will receive such thorough analy
sis and thoughtful LIBERATION that il will
stand q chance Of being practically elimi-
mated from civilized life
To the student OF these matters. espe-
cially the amateur who has not read a
whole library on the subject. Mr. brahms
work cannot fail 90 prove valuable il
combines an immense amount Of general
Information with suggestions and reiec-
tious OF value. and is marked throughout,
first 10y freedom from technical language
which would tend TO obscure the thought.
and. second boy an attitude OF mind Symps-
thetic and humane toward the criminal.
4 while free from the objection OF undue
seutimeutsiity Nothing more just and
: al the same time more Cousiderate, has
lately been written on the subject of the
treatment az criminals and some readers
viii be surprised. IS Lombr0so evidently
was. that a clerical author should write a
book so free from theological dogma and
{ scientifically impartial IN its dealings with
crime.
The chapter on hcrelity is one which Is
. likely 10 prove generally interesting since
the interest OF the public in this subject
has lately been awakened in degree
which may actually affect the morality and
I health OF future generations. Many
lhoushtiW ana CoAstIehuous people having
gotten INTO Jhelr heads the general idea Of
Z me WORKINGS o. me ia" OF heredity- have
become unduIy pftudiced or morbid on the
1 subject, not allowing themselves To under
STAND inaL ms, Hike every other force in
( nature mas us eounteIaetng force which
! must De taken INTO account when predicting
( results. They are TOO ready 20 condemn
I the offspring OF what they call bad stock
1 not realizing that this very condemnation
may bring out Inherited traits which would
! otherwise remain undeyeloped. perhaps for
! ever; and they are apt TO underestimate
the value Of good training in couuteracting
the influence Of bad inheritance. Mr.
brahms says:
IT, &C.. ,.,,.. ,.r.. ell, lam, o, i.r,,;.,. mo-.
ls termed -bt .,,-sr,-iu, rrip,iri, ef ~ ihsy
holds II I'M, a. ii. ideal while ID prrpetIstce in
discriminatory its vices aud IFS virtues its norman
ties and morbidiios. the former series in pro-
grcSl'e ratio, nc latter as containing within
Slll-e ,L osn se,i i IONS $,
! her ,ylr-r,s-.j.sr.
ne lnsu e"es on 10 discuss the laws OF
uniformity ana diversity, aIaylsm, the IN