Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-24

Of child-bearing age. All of this class
would be happier in colonies where sheiF
labor would produce the cost of subsistence
ir simple and comfortable way of life.
Thu Is the Best example of the growing
determination Of society to eliminate the
UNIT and consciously give preference to the
capable. humane method has been
fou1 for DISCRIMINATING gradually the VIC
| ious stock, anG this method will doubtless
be extended to habitual drunkards ami
criminals and to epileptics.
In prison science and art philanthropy
displays that highest proof of goodness,
charity to social enemies. But 1t Is a
rational and austere charity. For revenge
ana retributfon have been substituted So
ciai Protection anG individual reformation.
deprivation of liberty and severe Industrial
training ha. been found to be more deter
rent, more human and more efficient than
torture and capital punishment for theft.
Inc grade and mark system has been wide
~ introduced, and the prisoner is enabled
- measure and direct his own preparation
.or liberty. Conditional liberation on paro'e
and under guardianship completes the ap-
pacatfon OF the terminable sentence and
introduce the GENDER to his new trial of
freedom by stages. Elmira Reformatory,
| opened in 1876, embodied the principles 6:
modern reformatory methods.
Prison Improvement.
The National Prison Association, organic
ed by DR.. F. c. Wines in 1870, has had a
wide and profound influence in educating
prison oincers and the general public. while
the international penitentiary congress,
which also owes much to the energetic ini-
ua''ve OF DR.. Wines. has rendered the
highest form Of service. The character OF
oinciais Is rising. The merit system is sup
planting the shameful and costly spo,ls
system. In the fields of anthropo.ogy, psy-
chology,' Jurisprudence and international
law the best minds have made contri-
buttons to penology from their own partic-
ular studies.
The leaders OF prison reform rejoice IN
the recent acts of Congress providing for
the establishment of federal prisons for
lederai prisoners instead of the inferior
com:aodations of local prisons and city
brldeWeils, and the Fort Leavenworth peni-
tertiary, under Warden McClaughry prom
Uses 10 pecor.e model for the nation. The
reform schools. industrial schools and NUM-
cipal parental schools separate juvenile
Offenders from hardened feons and habit
uai mlsdemeanants. Manual training and
s.oyd methot of education have passed
beyond the stage of experiment and be-
come permanent factors in reformation
Cities have substituted fines and probation
aor corruptinG incarceration. SO that &C.
casional offender may keep up the saving
relations of faml.- and industry and still he
under rigid control.
Care of Children.
Michlsan led the way in establishing a
most enlightened and complete system of
child care, the admiration of philanthro-
pists in all the world. This system includes
supervision and control of all public and
private institutions for dependent and ne
elected children. that all may be protected
oy law. No child is to be placed in an in
sututon except on judicial approx al and
flnding that it is delinquent or dependent
All institutions are required to place de-
pendent children in approved family homes
within a reasonable time During minority
indentured children and youth are s,Iner
Eised and protected. No subsidies are given
from public funds to private institutions
but they are encouraged and simply requir-
ed to give evidence of eff ency Ill-trnat-
ed children are protected by stringent pro-
visions of law and parental custody comes
to an end when authority is abused. De-
pendent and delinquent children are care
fully separated.
Private societies for aiding neglected chill
dren have made great advance in methods
and results. Huge barracks are no longer
approved as permanent homes of children
and the natural environment of fostering
parental affection is sought for the home
less. kindergartens and day nurseries are
agencies of philanthropy for touching the
very beginning of educational life Re
formatorles are mere repair shops as COM
pared with these forming hools The
most hopeful effort is in the nursery. while
attempts to straighten crooked trees is dis
couraging.
A Wider and Nobler View.
Philanthropy has taken a wider and
nobler view of Its mission. 1t has become
preventive and educational Miss Carpen-
ter said: "A hospital cannot cleanse a
poison-infected district, nor diminish the
constant supply of patients from an I'M
drained and malarious locality" 1t is well
to remove the weak and tempted from a
bad environment, better still to improve the
environment. 1t is well to go down to the
and rescue one here and there;
better still to drain the cesspool improve
the tenements, prevent adulteraton of food
and drink, inspect factories and compel use
nd n;
ease. The wall at the top of the dangerous
preoipice is worth far more than an ambu-
lance at the bottom.
The grand Utah decision of Justice
Brown has at last given highest sanction
to the principle that the health of working
men Is an interest of the state, and cannot
be disregarded by the greed of employers
nor even by the stupidity and negligence
Of the employees. Churches have received
fresh and powerful impulse fromsa recov-
cry of the spirit of primitive Christianity
and have turned more and more from di-
visive controversy to generous rivalry In
humane endeavors. The associations for
young men and women have broadened
their work to care for the entire nature of
man. physical, aesthetic. intellectual and
spiritual. The Institutional church broke
the Formally Of staid methods and learned
Of the Salvation Army how to touch with
healing power the most neglected Of the
children Of the Heavenly Father. Even the
theological schools have slowly, sometimes
begun to prepare candidates
for the ministry for the practical admins
tration of charity, for wise cooperation
with enlightened public spirit and for APP
preciative and intelligent sympathy with
all efforts to promote the general welfare,
political righteousness and universal edu-
,ation.