The Cairo bulletin., 1904-02-13


in wisdoms ways. and become pro-
ducers of values. rather than consum{
ers of what other have gathered
am aware that | approach a yeryI
difficult task, when undertake to
make any comparison of either the
value Or the expense of these institu-
tions with those already dwelt upon.
In the FIRST place there is such a
variety Of wrongdoing, and wrong-do-
ers, ranging from the goodfor-noth
ing loafer on the street without energy
enough to commit an overt act, to the
deadly assassin who stoathily lays his
plot to take the life of him who knows
nothing of the design upon his life
and has no opportunity to defend him
self.
In connection with this study some
one has made the following classif
cation: First-The normal class of
individuals, which greatly exceeds all
others in numbers; these in every
community constitute the conservative
and trustworthy element and may be
said to be the back bone of the race.
Second-The dependent class, as rep
resented in almshouses, hospitals,
asylums for orphans and the home
less, and similar charitable institu'
tions The whole number of this class
IN 1880 was placed at l2S,G26. The
number is doubtless now fully 125,O00.
Third-The delinquency class, as found
in all penal and reformatory institu-
tions which, according to the same
authority. amount to 70,0SS. Fourth
The defective class To this class
belong the insane, the feeble-mlnded,
idiotic and imbecile, amounting in all
to 16S,55i; and also the deaf and
dumb, and blind, numbering S2,S06 in
all Fifth-Men of genius or great
talent head and shoulders above their
fellows in brain power.
But these figures are far from correct
since it is an impossibility to secure
full and complete data The delin-
quent class is especially desirous to
conceal themselves They must be
proven to be guilty before the world
regards them as such. In fact there
are some in our penal Institutions who
should not be there; but there are
! doubtless more who should be there
and are not Relative to the insane
it is claimed that many in every COM
munity are not reported because of
the sentiment that ii Is a disgrace to
acknowledge that our dear ones are
not of sound mind the most terrible
calamity that can possible befall
loved one Again, it is claimed that
there is often an exaggeration rela.
tive to the poor; for some are pleased
to be classed in this list in order
to receive aid There is also ten
dency to exaggerate evil or misfor-
tune in order to bring out more lib
eral sympathy. for there is unfortun.
ately a morbid desire to picture the
world in the darkest colors.
/ 1t is estimated tha he value of the
distinctly abnormal man to those who
are normal is about one to hundred;
and until the estimate is made but
/ few realize how much concern and ex-
! pense the few are able to make the
many. But these. like the poor we
have with us always, and the prob
/ lem must be met; the more promptly
the better Ever since the drama In
( the Garden Of Eden the errrng ones
/ have caused great anxiety and more
or less expense to those who have
not gone into the path Of wrong-doing
/ One crank Is able to throw the whole
nation into mourning. and his punish
ment will be no greater than had he
/ killed a felow.crank AS we study
! the cause Of crime we are led to the
conclusion that the teaching of practi
cal morality in the home and in the
school is without doubt one of the
great needs of the hour Not that this
has been wholly neglected In the past,
but the results lead us to a suspicion
that the work has not been empha.
sized as much as it should The
masses are not aroused to the terri.
bleness and extent of crime 1t is
rather a modern idea that the school
has much to do win the cultivation of
the volitional power the pupil.
Perez claims that the business of edu.
cation should be much more concern
ed with the habits that children ac-
quire, and with their wills, rather than
with the moral conscience. The lat
ter, he says, is the blossom that will
be followed by fruit, but the former
are the roots and branches. This
position may not be wholly safe, but
there Is no doubt as to the very great
value in teh individual being well
grounded by habit in doing the things