The independent., 1904-01-14

Sour Grapes" with it's subtitle,
ssHeredity and Marriage" by Ed. AM
herst Ott president OF Otis school
of expression. Chicago, ILL.,, fell by the
Wayside and thus becomes the sub
dect of our criticism. The chief fea-
lture of the book deals with crime and
criminals from the standpoint OF her
edity. which he seeks to make spon-
sor for this growing menace to So
ciety. and while attempting to with
hold from the race at large that uni
versal application of the censoria cos
mos declared upon in holy writ, con-
cedes that 1--WE are all Of one blood
Starting with a grain of truth, his
emphasis of "heredity' grows beyond
all measure Of consistency SO much
SO, in fact, that he is overtaken by
self-refutation, not only between the
lines. but by direct statement. 1t Is
to be regretted by all that one OF Mr..
Otis natural ability and acquisitions,
could not, in advance OF Sour
Grapes have made the acquaintance
of Vim. Dean HoWelPs Traveller from
Altruria," and also have cleaned from
Mr.. Herbert Spencer's ninth chapter
of Social States" the evidence upon
which society, en- omnibus, Is not only
indicted. but convicted of being ma
ternal paternis TO all of the whelps
of dolus born in the cosnic lair.
Though 1t may be that 1t was refiec-
tions along these lines or from some
such contact, that led him In his final
summary to conclude that those Grim
inals that passed review under his
glass were more sinned against than
SHINING"
But "Sour Grapes" is not a total
failure by any means. Aside from the
fact that it contains some very use
full information, IL needed, 1T cannot
be denied that as an emollient with
which to assnage the conscience Of
those who, shifting their breasts
thank God that they are not "as other
men are" 1t is a complete success.
To personal character, MI. OFT as
signs three-fold basis, in this or
der: heredity environment and self
education. That this is the proper or
der Of Importance is true only from
the fact that environment, in the
broad sense, involves both the others.
He also says: 1.-THE blows and Duf-
fets Of adverse circumstance affect
it, but has neither mention nor cen
sure for those who, by their insatiate
criminal greed, are directly RESPONSE
BILE for those adverse circumstances.
He also says. "The WEAKNESS born
OF hard labor and the sweet benedic-
tion of rest are needed" The use of
the conjunctive in this sentence fur
nishes us rather curious anomaly;
for when hard labor, either as ju-
dicial ukase or from force Of circum-
stance is imposed, the physical law of
nature is violated, but this is not
needed" This may be mere lapsus
lingui, but, considering the latter part
of the sentence, how abortiye the mere
benediction of rest wodid be unless
bodily comforts were also at hand.
Mr.. OFT seems not to see that ii is the
absence of these bodily comforts that,
In the main, incite 80 per cent of pet
ty crimes as declared upon by large
and dignified concensus Of authority
upon social statics.
There is All unveiled suspicion in
the OFT philosophy and dictum that
the hounds employed upon the gen.
eoogic trail of the New York, Ind
lana and Oklahoma families, to whom
Mr. OFT pays the compliment of spe-
cial mention, and whose progeny fur
nished such saturnalia of crime thai
their prosecution cost their respective
states several millions of dollars, hat
what hunters cali dad nose" l. G..
their scent had become vitiated while
those who ran by sight were han
dicapped by wearing the OFT grount
lens. The birds they stooled Were
all OF the common feather. l. O., tht
lower (least dangerousl impoverished
type. None of the pharlsaic brant
are mentioned. though criminal Stats
ties show that the most henioui
crimes. and these compounded, ar,
largely committed by clergymen an,
others OF high social standing,
Mr.. OFT also says that virtue ant
vice run In families" and that tn
sconvicts In our penal institutions
wear In their facial contour evidences
OF an Unborn predlsposltion to crime.
y yet does not claim that any uf Oh,
\ progeny Of the "ylcIons families" men