Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1902-08-28

ParfaSe! 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.
I need not assure you Of our good
faith You have nothing to fear.''
4 smile flashed over the criminals
face: the philanthropist went on rap
idly:
I'VE are not in with the police |
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 I 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, I 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 1 smoke
four Of these every day of my life,
and sometimes it runs to five or six
mere habit. Now, my views are pretty
we'll known, and it would interest me
extremely to have the views of great
Il should perhaps say remarkable
criminal upon them. 1 hold that the
prison ruins the body, lowers the in
tellect and destroys the soul" The
last phrase came pat and mechanical.
The phlanthropist 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 i:
much to be learned. Now I see thu
prison of the future as a handsome
weil-lighted, airy place, with a fint
garden attached, and a swimmin:
l5rary, and-er-everything Of that sort
There would be comfortable recrea
tion-rooms; bagatelle perhaps bill
liards. Gambling and bad language
OF course, prohibited. There would b.
an employment bureau, which woul,
look after. every man when he ha'
finished his term There would be
system Of rewards for good conduct
and there would be good deal of mt
sieve should believe in a refnin
process"
The philanthropist was consciou
that he had put it better on platforms
There was something in the criminal
good-natured and contemptuous ey
that disconnected him.
How does it strike you?" he asked.
When the criminal was able to spea
Ior laughing, he said: Excuse nett
iupDlsh, Of course"
You don't think that as a method {
reclamatiOn-" Again the philal
thropist stopped blankly.
No criminal is ever reclaimed. Pc
PIE who are not criminals, but hay
nade mistakes, may see the advantas
VI lot making any more-that happe1
solhetlmes. But the natural crimin
remains the natural criminal just {
Tue natural genius remains n geniu