Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-10-31

Parrage?" asked the phil
anthropIst, doubtfully.
Certainly" said the big man in the
easy chair. He looked good-natured
and at the same time rather tired and
contemptuous. He had been through
it all; the accepted ideas and the usual
people did not matter much; but there
was no reason to be angry with them
or anything else.
81 was extremely glad that our mu-
tual friend, Mr.. Timmins, was able to
induce you to come and pay me visit
/ need not assure you of our good
faith. You have nothing to fear
A smile flashed over the criminals
face; the philanthropist went on rap
idly:
I'VE are not in with the police. l
won't say we oppose them-that would
be illegal-but we are not in sympathy
with them. Now, before we begin to
talk, what may offer you? A cup of
tea"-valiantly outing with his proof
that he was no fanatic-"a whisky and
soda? And what about cigarette"
Thanks" said the criminal; Il never
drink at three in the. afternoon. For
that matter, | never drink tea or Whis-
key at any time; they undoubtedly
spoil the nerve. For the same reason
prefer my pipe. if you don't mind"
BY all means. I'm afraid l smoke
four of these every day of my life,
and sometimes it runs to five or six
mere habit. Now. my views are pretty
well known. and it would interest me
extremely to have the views of a great
I should perhaps say remarkable
criminal upon them. | hold that the
prison ruins the body, lowers the in
tellect and destroys the soul" The
last phrase came pat and mechanical.
The philanthropist had used it on many
platforms.
Undoubtedly" said the criminal.
But what else can you expect?'
"Surely in this twentieth century" "
the philanthropist began, and stopped
blankly
Briefly, there are more stupid and
ignorant people than clever and well
informed people. Our method of treat
ing criminals pleases the stupid and ig-
norant majority"
You're quite right" said the phil
anthropist, eagerly. "That majority
must be educated. Already there has
been some advance. Look at the sen
tences that used to be carried out less
than hundred years ago; they would
not be tolerated now But there is
much to be learned. Now l see the
prison of the future as a handsome
well-lighted, airy place, with n fine
garden attached and swimming
bath, and-er-a gymnasium and IL
brary and-er-everything of that sort
There would be comfortable recrea
tlon-rooms, bagatelle perhaps bill
lards. Gambling and bad language
of course, prohibited. There would be
an employment bureau, which would
look after every man when he hat
finished his term. There would be &
system of rewards for good conduct
and there would be a good deal of mu
sieve should believe in 4 refining
process"
The philanthropist was conscious
that he lad put it better on platforms
There was something in the criminals
good-natured and contemptuous ey,
that disconnected him
How does it strike you?" he asked.
When the criminal was able to speal
for laughing, he said: Excuse melt.
rubbish, of course"
you don't think that as a method o.
reclamatiOn-" Again the philan
thropist stopped blanlily.
mo criminal is ever reclaimed. Peo
pie who are not criminals, but have
made mistakes, may see the advantage
of not making any more-that happens
sometimes. But the natural crimina
remains the natural criminal, just a
the natural genius remains genius
and for just the same reasons. En-
vironment and circumstance may max
the occasional criminal, but the rea
thing-that is inborn, that is the maj
himself"
"Oh, but | can't hold with you there,
said the philanthropist, plucking u
heart. That is Il desperate doctrine
And the facts are all against you. d
you know the work that the Salvation
Army is doing"
Certainly. 1t is we'll meant. An
you may depend upon religious org.
to produce in some people kind O