The Washington herald., 1910-09-28
AT THE HOTELS.

story?" said Richard Fletcher, Of New
York, at the Shoreham last night. 'Oh.
yes. Daniel Frohman is a recognized
authority on the American drama. and
what he thinks about the modern drama
would, no doubt. prove Of interest He
says that where American theatrical au-
diences would have been shocked at GER
tain problem plays ten years ago. they
see the same play to-day and md IL
tame-a pastoral play. The education %
the American theater-going people has
been rapid. They are not as squeamish
as they used to be. There has taken
place quite change on the stage with
the stage malefactorE. The guilty party
or villain in the play is now the one
who gets his punishment: not an inno-
cent party, as IL used 10 be- This Is
greatly due 10 the muck-rakers and the
agitation for political purity and the
persecution Of the capitaHstic and trust
malefactors."
r. sanagi. commissioner OF the prison
bureau OF the department Of justice OF
/ Tokyo. japan. who is here TO attend the
International Prison Congress, is at the
Shoreham.
! Speaking about japanese prisons. Mr..
sanagi said that the idea in sending peo-
/ pie TO jail in Japan is 10 make them
better, and not to punish them.
The first idea" said Mr.. Sanagi. when
a person is condemned 10 a prison term
! in Japan, is 10 surround him with such
| influence as will make Of him better
man 1t is the purpose 10 return him 20
civilization. after his release, useful
citizen. The idea of punishment is only
secondary, Punishment. as a rule, will
harden a person and will not make him
better. after he has served his term. than
he was before he entered upon IT,
IF there are people who say that ia
pan does not entertain feelings of most
sincere friendship for the United States.
they either wiIlfulIy tell a falsehood or
are entirely ignorant Of the truth"
DR.. TheobaId Burkhart. OF Lausanne,
Switzerland, who is also here to attend
the Prison Congress. is at the Raleigh
Speaking OF what a Lausanne news
paper recently said about a prison at
Sarnen, DR. Burkhart said: prison life
in Switzerland is a luxury. instead OF
| a punishment Take. for instance, the
prison al Sarnen. This Is an ideal penal
resort, for the happy criminals who are
sentenced to terms OF detention IN that
institution have a far better time than
hundreds Of free Swiss citizens who are
forced 10 earn their bread.
a correspondent OF a Lausanne paper
recently said that he was passing
through Ssrnen when he saw a number
Of men. dressed in dark blue clothes
with white stripes. walking about the
village. smoking and joking. Others
were seated in d cafe. and some were
working in a leisurely manner. carry
ing bricks for the construction Of a new
building To his establishment. the cor
respondent found that the men were
eonviets from the cantonal prison near
by. These convicts are permitted 10
leave the prison early in the morning
and find work around SaTnen, or walk
about the country until nightfau. when
they return of their own accord.
They are unacoompsnied by wardens
and there is nothing 10 prevent their
escaping, but they are far too comfort
able 10 think OF relinquishing their
quarters. for they have as much lib
erty as other men. and are. moreover.
fed and lodged for nothing. The money
earned By the convicts who choose 10
work can be spent as they ike. One
convict. who is employed by a local
| magistrate, sends his monthly salary 10
his wife and children. Two or three
eonyicts escaped some weeks ago. but
they eventually returned 10 the prison
in half-famished condition, and after
being severely reprimanded they were
allowed to return 10 their apartments"
America leads Germany in culture, ac-
cording 10 Prof. DR.. Theodor Wieland. OF
Leipzig. Germany. who is al the Airing
ton. DR.. Wieland is a university PROBES
sor and has made q close study OF Amer
lean university life.
The arrangements ic- study the close
comradeship of the students. the beau
tiful surroundings. and the general tone
Of culture are not nearly approached by
European universities, but al American
/
stood said Dr. Wieland. The lecture
| halls, the students dormitories. the col
lections and libraries and experimental
laboratories are patterns for the world,
while the prevailing calm and quiet are
eminenty conducive 10 study"
Speaking OF the American home life. DIR.
Wieland said; The comfort and beauty
of the. house interiors made deep inn
preston on me, and Germans have very
much to learn in that respect. I was
struck by the roominess and capital ar
rangements of the various apartments.
all of which I found exactly suited 10
! their uses. and without display
Until 7 visited America, il had never
occurred 10 me-" concluded DIT. Wieland.
how far Germany Jagged behind in re-
gard TO culture. IN America. as in Eng
land and TO a great extent IN France, 7
found culture holds first place; and then
comes learning. In Germany, owing 10
the long period of poverty she has passed
through, compelling each 10 struggle Tor
himself alone, no upper stratum of So
ciety such as is generally recognized as
forming the foundation OF exterior and
interior culture mas developed itself. Con-
sequently, education is unhealthy over
rated at the expense OF ideal and ethical
good breeding.
The epoch Of prosperity now being en-
joyed by Germany is. however. creating q
new order Of things, and with its recog-
nized leadership in the sciences the en-
pire is striding steadily toward the goal
which will enable II also TO take its
proper place in the forefront OF cu!-
ture."
Tale of ISS2 Over Again.
From the Baltimore sun.
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