Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1902-09-03

torious criminal, Louis
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.
II was extremely glad that our mu-
tual friend, Mr.. Timmins, was able to
induce you to come and pay me visit.
l 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.
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"-valantly outing with his proof
that he was no fanatic-"a whisky and
soda? And what about a cigarettes"
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 mindT'
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. l 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
blanllly
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 I see the
prison of the future as 4 handsome.
well-lighted, airy place, with a fine
garden attached and q swimming
bath, and-er-a gymnasium and IL
brary, and-er-everything of that sort.
There would be comfortable recrea-
tion-rooms, bagatelle perhaps bill
llards. Gambling and bad language,
of course, prohibited. There would be
an employment bureau, which would
look after every man when he had
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 had put it better on platforms.
There was something in the criminals
good-natured and contemptuous eye
that Disconnected him.
"How does it strike you?" he asked.
When the criminal was able to speak
fol laughing, he said: Excuse me-it's
rubbish, of course"'
"You don't think that as a method of
reclamation" Again the philan-
thropist stopped blankly.
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 criminal
remains the natural criminal Just as
the natural genius remains a genius,
and for just the same reasons. En-
vironment and circumstance may make
the occasional criminal, but the real
thlng-that is inborn that is the man
himself"
"Oh, but can't hold with you there"
said the philauthropist plucking up
heart THAT is a desperate doctrine.
And the facts are all against you. Do
you know the work that the Salvation
Army is doing"
Certainly. 1t is well meant. And
you may depend upon religious orgy
to produce in some people a kind of