The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-11-18
A TERRIBLE LESSON FOR PARENTS

In prison cell in southern Indiana under indictment on
charge of wlful murder and likely pay the penalty life
The two babes Of the murdered banker weeping
their desoae home Two lie to death All
different victims of the thnghe influence
the dime novel The boy read the novel inspired
He attempted bank robbery shot the guardians money
captured, and sits facing death,
On hospital cot in Kansas, after lying hours agony died
the penenay door open the law died in
the discharge of his duty bank cashier DEATH
And again the sinister shadow of the dime
These thrilling occurred within a week
Every man dealing with criminals could tell of thousands like
And hruout the history vice and everywhere
that same dreadful curse of immoral literature.
More than tenths OF all begin downward
career before the twenty The tendency the
inclination TO evil in almost shows itself early
hood The habit OF the youth becomes the fate of the
What then should be taken with the young boys
He what called mpressionsic" accepts with
out serious question those ideas which he finds
minded companions and trustworthy guides hoys will
be easily and surely moulded with
low and vicious comrades with the subtle influence degrading
immoral literature with unworthy guides which he unconsciousy
initiates il is equally lay the foundations which shall
structure OF misery crime and degradation where noble edce
is peculiar thing that while there is no characteristic more
common among than personal physical courage there
which widely admired Army officers you that
hundred show fear in the presence of and
yet aho there other quality widely by men, courage
is probably the thing which minds least
most admirable. This naturally parents should take it
always into consideration.
With large proportion of are brave is not sur
prisng that criminals and other persons utterly unworthy
or honor should have their share of And
known his the Many criminals have
done brave things But there has Away blind
which has prevented their seeing the tremendous which
comes from their acts However their histories have written
and rewritten, and fictitious stories of heroes
been concoed all clarifying the idea personal courage which
fine thing but setting in the midst of opposing
law and decency Such books must n into the minds of their
youthful readers sentiments similar those which have
the crimnalshey the bravery the heroes
sby imagine themselves showing similar admirable quatyin
similar surroundings.
Thus is for boy become in his mind criminal long
before he has opportunity commit crime And the
portuny does it almost surely will takes
little spring the delicate and enguf both the boy
victims in horrible fate
1t largely within the of prevent these things
The braves have been criminas-heoes
venture many and grows older easily taught
admire that finer which from teadas carrying
OF great Books telling these things easily be found
and their results will be ennobng while the they will
have all the interest and breathess adventure hold the
mind OF healthy American But from the reading of
trashy stories of novels which make
with virtue but caous newspapers
present day criminals the way only perhaps
disaster,
turnout the country be taught the deep ag
edys the last week this lesson be that these crimes will
the end accomplish good which well be called the
ruling Providence.