The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-03-08

Is no doubt much truth In inc tneory,
| for like begets like" IN nature
everywhere. and any general depar-
turc from the rule must be brought
about by wrong means OF by wrong
training. An interesting comparison
was made In an educational journal
! recently between the defendants Of
| two families of early American times.
The head of one of these families
sccmed TO be a natural criminal. His
| instincts were coarse. his manner
cruel, his course of life evil and de-
prayed. He figured rs ore of the first
iail-birds in L. g colonial records and
he was a great trouble to his neigh
borhocd. The head Of the other OF
tbes. fim'l.cS vas n'sn noted for
his piety. his scholarship, and his
general worth. His name was always
mentioned with respect and all who
knew him were proud OF his acquain-
, tance. The deceujnnts of these two
men have been traced down TO the
present day, for both OF them had FAM
lilies, and their posterity show a lc-
markable equality In numbers. Tho
statistics are not at, hand just now,
but recall that they bore every indi-
cation of having Teen laboi1ous.y and
accurately gathered, A surp. ising
number Of the first mans Descendants
have been inmates of refornhsorles,
houses of correction and prisoIs' Vice
and wickedness seemed to pc their
element and they lived In Its atmos-
phere. Their genealogy seeme | - be
one continuous record OF cr:inc this
manifesting itself in every generation
and In every branch of the fapiily-
The descendants OF the cthc7 mans
family comprise larger number. and
are college graduates and more
leading and learned men. than
any other family has contribut-
ed They have been patriots. fur
nishing host OF statesmen. schol-
ars, ministers. authors and men
and women OF the highest type In life
Certainly this comparison is fruitful
Of thought and suggestive as to one Ut
the social problems Of tho day. The
influence and surroundings 1nder
which the children In the different
families grew up undoubie lily had an
inestimable effect upon their later
lives.
Heredity Is not alone responsible
for the fact that In one family nearly
every member lived in vice md crime.
While in the other family ueat'y every
member loved the good, the true anj
the beautiful Children's natures, ,anl
even adult natures are inmcuselN CT
fected, 1t not indeed nude, by Their
circumstances, by thelc "environ-
ments." as the scientists cIii 1t. Whc'e
purity Is enjoined, and priced in'i
sought after, more OF 1t VII be iound
than where 1t Is despiseG. Were vice
is looked upon with horror. and chill
dren are taught to shun 1t as a hid
eous thing, 1t will claim fewer victims
than where 1t is familiar. Where
strict watch and care is kept over the
lives of the young. to see that their
associations are good, their instruc-
tions are wholesome and the examples
set before them are worthy Of imita-
ton, better men and women will grow
up There will be more good citizens,
and fewer criminals.
Another thing, parents owe 1t to
themselves. their children and their
country to keep homes attractive and
stay with their children. From the
shores Of the Atlantic to the Pacific.
from Canada to Mexico. our people
seemed to have commenced the break
Ing up of the old fashioned home, de-
serting the flreside to go out to places
Of amusement. The children of
course, catch the spirit. The breaking
UP OF home life means the building up
Of places of evil.
The tendency of family life to be
before the public gaze rather than In
private repose. must be changed. It
is my judgment, as Chief Color says.
that the police throughout the United
States, by arresting persons and max
ing the arrests a matter Of record.
have been instrumental In making as
many criminals as any other agency
in the world, unless 1t Is environment
and .heredity. Publicity Is given to
the arrest Of persons who have taken
something of little value, or commit
ted some other trivial offense. This
leads to disgrace and has an inevitable
tendency to break down the confidence
of the young offender. Many young
persons who have committed larceny
and not been exposed are now respect
able citizens. and In some instances
the leading business men of the coun-
try.
With some persons crime Is a dis
ease, believe, but lack of proper en-
vironment leaves others open TO many
temptations and the first slip often re-
suits In time in permanent ruin be-
cause no difference is made between
thief and q mtschievous boy.