The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-03-18
\ problem In Iau-cnic.

persons who choose to go no deeper
than the surface In considering such
tragedies az that which occurred at
Hillsv!llc see the outlaw of the An
phlach!an Mountains as somewhat
dashlnG figure. despite his disregard
ioF human rights ana human life
something OF the thrill" experienced
by the unthinking patron % cheap
melodrama is felt by many persons
who read reports Of such incidents
in the history OF mOur.ain undevclop
mcnt. The reports at least By the
time they have passed through the
hands Of editors and undergone the
necessary shaping-up process for the
Improvement OF English are we'll
written and the picture put clearly
before tho eye OF the reader is Just
such picture OF spectacular gunplay
rs the writer Of inclodrama likes to
stage. Beneath the surface there lies
the unsolved problem Of eugcnics
which reflects Itself in the blooGshcd
that occurs frequently in the Virginia
and Kentucky mountains. and else
where in the Appalnchians. There is
less of primitivencss than OF degane!-
acy in the baciwoods communities
which produce the type Of bad man
that figures in such outbreaks
IL is easy, and to the newspaper cor
respondent as well as the novelist
tempting, TO put the mountain outlaw
upon paper as bold, self-reliant
half-barbaric man, who holds the law
and it's RED tape in low esteem and
seeks more direct methods of settling
differences, Ii is easy, and quite the
usual thing. to paint Him as having
most Of the simple virtues and lacking
10 essential OF good citizenship save
proper understanding OF the value
Of law and order aud Of his obligation
To society to respect the rights of
others and rely upon the courts al
arhiters between disaGrecinB neigh
bors. Blu, the fact is that the So
called "feudist" is usually degraded
in various ways. AS rule. he drinks
10 excess, and performs most of mis-
deeds OF lawless daring when well
keyed up with whiskey He can
usually be procured to commit crimes
against individuals with whom he has
ha" no difference. The DULLES who
ride ut the back of a mountain leader
are often as closely related BY ties
of blood or marriage to Il prospcctive
victim of their rifles as to the man
VINO has enlisted them in his support
Every kind OF immortality flourishcs
among the professional had men" 1t
has been shown In several investiga-
tions In recent years that tho use OF
morphine and other drugs, in addition
among men OF the type even in remote
sections whore ii might he reasonably
assumed that such rcfnemcnts of
dcbauchcTy have not reached Flood
relationship. far from constituting
bond OF loyalty has often seemed TO
intensity the monstrous passions OF
assassins. who lie in wait for one an
other bchinA trees Or band together
to ride TO n cabin door to call out an
unarmed man ana shoot him from the
cover of darkness while he Is sill
houcttcd against the light 1t may be
assumed, for the sake OF argument.
that such unnatural crimes as pntricide
and fratricide are not common enough
TO be regarded as manifestations of
degcneracy in n class, but first cousins
have often Eeen found In opposing fac
lions IN the so-called clan wars. The
marriage OF Montague and Il Capulct
Of the Cumbcrlands brings a fcud to n
peaceful end in a novel. In real life
an exchange OF demonstrations between
families that have intcrmarricd is not
uncommon.
That the Aliens of Virginia are
about upon a par with some of the
gunner who Wcrc IL the rctinuc OF
the late Judge James Targis. OF Jack
son. Is PLAN from the fact that one of
them boasts that five of thirteen bull
let's II his body We're put there by
his brother. ana from the fact that
perjury. counterfcitinG and moon
Children Cry
EAE; ETruEDfc