The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1907-11-27
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TRAGEDY OF THE kids

All California is torn up over the
tragic revelations from the famous uni-
I yersity town Of Berkeley. wherein the
three principals are students, and none
of them barely past their legal majority
4 of years. The whole story is very pitt
full and before its last page 10 written
there must be yoluminous record OF
sorrow and shame for the families in-
volved. One young man is in his grave,
the victim OF murder; the girl in the
case is already a fit subject for the in
sane asylum, and the third, the man
accused of the two worst crimes in the
calendar. murder and rape. is headed for
the penitentiary, if he does not reach
the gallows first.
The details as furnished by the young
woman are about as bad as they can
well be; and Indicate such abnormal ten
denotes in so young group as to make
one shudder with dread lest other un-
suspected children are possessed of the
same wretched ideas and impulses; and
beget the fear that college life on the
coed basis is not to be trusted any
longer.
The dreadful story cannot but operate
adversely on the University Of Califor-
MIA 1t is a noble institution, with a.
magnificent history of achievement and
host of living examples to prove its
abounding power and spirit in the round
ing out Of admirable citizens and splen-
did scholars; but such story as this
Of young Klienschmidt, Blanche Kerfoot
and Frank Bellows is too profound a
reproach to pass human society without
resultant structures that viii be widely |
needed; for it strikes at the very core
OF the eo-educational system, and comes
as near negatiying the idea as anything |
probably ever will.
1t carries another tremendous lesson
to the thoughtful American that should
sink deep and rankle until it inspires q
social upheayal of amendment, and that
il. that we are becoming far too negli-
gent Of our young people in the matter
of personal license and accountability
we are too indulgent, for their good,
and our own, in the matter of their
habit of time, association, pursuits.
pastime, and all the governing features
Of daily life; the child OF today is prac-
tically independent OF the family, and !.
has recourse to its faculty of oversight
only at moments of peril of illness, OF
and disgrace. This is radi- /
eally wrong, but it is essentially
phase of the times in which we live,
and typical expression of that ma
tional heedlessness that marks our ca
reer in hundred ways just as start
ling as this. We are gradually forsaking
the best OF the ordinary standards that
prevailed but short generation ago, and
we are going to get our full measure Of
for the abandonment unless {
We placate destiny by showing pro- j
founder love and interest for the heirs z
of country, home, and dear traditions, (,
than we are manifesting now, and re- i
awaken in them the homelier, safer and q
deeper instincts of the home and family, q
and invoke, once more the gentle rule of c
subsection that was once the guiding t
principle Of American life and the best
grace among its best influences. We owe
,he young of today far more than we
ire granting, and it will be worse for
IS if we do not take over our universal
luty and win them back to simpler and
iweeter things.