Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-04-13
II you vote "No" on Tuesday the
schools will close there will be no
promotions and no graduations.
POVERTY AND MURDER.

Some days ago the public was
shocked at the news telegraphed from
the East, Of woman living at Cold
brook who had taken the life Of her
six children. The woman. OF course,
was supposed to be insane and what
more was there to be said about II?
1t now appears, however. that there is
long, pathetic story preceding that
awful tragedy. 1t appears from the
newspaper accounts that the unfortu-
nate was an unusually bright woman,
whose love for her children was bound
less. But she was doomed to life Of
poverty and hardship. The fear Of hav-
ing to go to the poor house and seeing
her children cast upon the world fell
upon her lfe's path as a dark shadow.
and when finally the inevitable came
when 1t was intmated 70 her that the
poor house was her only asylum she
preferred the death OF her offspring to
separation from them In any other
way. At the funeral Of the little inno-
cents. the pastor. In his sermon, asked
this pointed questions What was the
awful process Of these years which
transformed the innocent. loving moth
er of these children into such a tragic
frenzy that she became the instrument
OF their destruction? Here is for us
study Of the evolution Of character up.
on the darkest side!" And that is a
question with which society is con-
cerned How was the transformation
of a loving mother into a murderous
iunatic brought about? Where Is the
responsibility? Something must be out
Of order in organized society, when the
ambition, the struggles of hard toll
OF one Of It's members have no other
reward than the poor house, the mad |
house, or the grave. while others are
living In luxury. There is something |
wrong wherever Is found a Lazarus
suffering hunger at the very door Of
afiluence and abundance.
The incident IA an impressive illus
tration Of the truth recently told by
Ballington Booth, when he charged that
public charity generally takes the form
Of "domicde'- killing Of the family.
In this instance the destruction was lit
eral. and the instrument was the mo-
Their herself but who shall say that the
system Mr. Booth condemns IS not
chiefly responsible?
The charity problem Is one Of the
most important Of the present time.
The question involved is how to supply
he wants OF those who are in need
without lowering their moral standard.
'r destroying their manhood, or woman
hood. The world would do well 10 study
he teachings Of the Gospelon this point.
And behold thou wilt remember the
Door, and consecrate Of thy properties
or their support and mas
much as We lmpart OF your substance
INTO the poor ye will do It unto me-,
Doc. and Gov, Sec. ~.
That is the Gospel view OF charity
What is to be done for the poor Is to be
ooked upon as done to the Master
Himself The question may therefore
e put in all seriousness, whether the
ull duty Is done when the poor house
8 built and the appropriation for its
maintenance made? Would Christian
harity exult over generosity that
'ould offer the Master no more than
he hospitality of poor house?
II is a melancholy circumstance that Q
n American mother anywhere in this !
lagniilcent land should be driven 10
espair after a life OF loving toll for
err little ones, We doubt whether II
ould have happened IN Utah. Here 4
wing hands are generally widely I
pened 10 those who are destitute. And J
Is but right that II should be so, for I
ere the law Of the Gospel carried out, n
arfectly, there would be no restitution. !
hat law provides the remedy against =
! human Ills, including those OF a c
mporal character.
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