The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1907-03-06
QUESTION
OF HEREDITY
IorigInnl.l

Dixon and DR. Hardeman, were dis.
GUESSING problems OF heredlty which
fell continually under their observa.
tion. Professor Dixon was speaking.
Il do not admit yopr claim. doctor.
that environment has an equal effect
with beredity At least. to change a
hereditary criminal by environment we
must begin in the earliest childhood.
and then 1t viii not in all cases he pos.
sible to eradicate the hereditary
faint"
"You are wrong. professor win
take u middle aged criminal, remove
him from temptation, Impress him with
the Nervousness Of crime ana make a
good citizen OF hun"
Such Impression Is at times lmpos-
slble. | once endeavored to reform
man who had tried to XIII his
father. he told me that his father
had killed his grandfather and tile
grandfather had tried to XIII the great
grandfather Ten years after the first
attempt, and when believed Ind
changed him, my man made second
attempt"
"And can cite q case per contra
right here in this penal settlement.
Peter Hui and Eliza Wurts were serv-
ing life sentences here. Peter was
twenty-five when he came here, and
Eliza was twenty. They had lived at
home In the very worst part OF London.
From childhood they had been accus.
toned to crime. II was foreordained
that they should become criminals, but
It was not foreordained that they
should remain such. any more than it
is foreordalned that poisonous berry
shall always remain poisonous. It
may be cultivated, grated. transplant.
ed, till 1t is sweet and OF delicious fla
vor
$50 1t has been with Peter and Eliza.
They have not had field needed for
an experimental case, but they have
had sufficient TO produce a marked
change Transplanted TO this colony.
they were removed from their homes In
the sluns. Then both were given tick
cts of leave They went out of prison
each to live in little home, to breathe
the pure air of heaven, to thrive in the
warm sunshine. vegetable garden
for each put forth green sprouts. Fruit
trees and flowers budded. Within the
windows dainty white curtains gave
CHEEKY look 10 each house, and the fur
niture, If Of plain manufacture, was
always kant yornishad
Peter could not have done all this
had 1t not been for the help of Eliza.
1t was she at least who made the cur
tains for him and showed him how to
hang them. 1t was she who made a
white valance for his bed. He furnish
ed the material from which she made
him sheets. pillowcases, napkins. In
short. she did all those things that wo-
men know how to do, and Peter did
many things for her. He spaded her
garden. repaired her house and her fur
niture and often made her presents of
things she needed and could not afford
to buy, for, while she could make
money go further than he. she could
not make 1t as easily.
There came the little god and Wills
pered in Peters ear: United you can
both do better You can be more free
to make money with Eliza at home to
take care OF your house, mend your
clothes and have your meals ready for
you when you come home. There will
be more money, and 1t will be applied
to better advantage. This was not all
the god whispered. Peter thought it
was, but it was not. The boy spoke
things both TO Peter and to Eliza which
had no reference TO what was prac-
teal. Eliza's ear was more attuned
to them. At any rate, she heard them,
and they appealed to her
"Peter went to her and told her what
he had been thinking. She waited to
hear those spiritual words that the
little god had spoken to her. They
did not come. but she knew by Peters
manner that he felt their influence.
They went to a priest and asked him
to marry them.
Were you married before coming
here? he asked OF Peter.
Yes
sand your wife is deadP
ayes.
"'Are you sureP
al should be; was sent here for
killing her
.The priest turned, walked to win.
dow, looked out, bordering, then re.
turned to the couple
"'And your to the woman. You are
willing to marry a man who has killed
his wffeT
al am
"'Do you not fear to live with such
manY
"'He has not been worse than l.
"'What were you sent here forY
killing my husband
again the priest walked away, pom
dered and returned.
WELL he said. If you two are will
Ing to marry each other, l see NO rea.
son why should not marry you
"And he did. That was twenty years
ago. Mrs. Hull is now fifty years old.