The San Francisco call., 1913-09-12
8 Criminal Carelessness r
}*# The Excuse Didn't Know 1t Vas Loader Only
Justified in an Idiot
The Excuse

"a GREAT many of us-and we
N are not hard hearted people
IL either-read with delight the
other day Of Judge who
had the courage to sentence a
man to eight years in the peniten-
tiarys for accidentally killing his
friend It is about time that some
body called halt not only on the
3 fool who fools with a gun. but on
the ether crsminally careless individ-
, uals who go on their devastating way
through the world. breaking hearts
and running homes, and who think
they. have sufficiently atoned for the
harm they do by saying they didn't
intend it
. IN all the length and breadth of
. contradictory human nature there is
nothing stranger than that we should
{ take this overly charitable view Of
: carelessness. The simple testimony
that she didn't know the gun was
F.; Teaded'sshas been accepted as a hand
!. some apology for murder in innumer-
/ able cases. To.say we didn't think
!: the crest of US regard as a blanket
excuse. that we can stretch over all
the lesser crimes In the calendar.
: we. work it for all that it is worth.
:. yet: in reality it is plea for pardon
5 that .habody but an idiot is justified
: fn putting forth IN his own behalf
A PARALLEL
50 What: reason, that anybody ought
:.to -be..expected to accept, can an in
!. .reiligent human being give for not
thiaking? It always reminds me of
a. colored philosopher once knew.
..wlso meted out stern justice to her
offspring. and who was particularly
severe on them when they dared to
: offer the excuse, 'T didn't think" by
= yEay'sof a panacea for their shortcom-
iags. Didn't think. didn't think, =
she :. would exclaim. wrathfully.
:. SHUTS de good in havin' a thinker
ef you don't wuk IT."
. $50 say we all, brethren and SIS
.. .ters-what's the use?
To take the matter up in its most
. practical aspect is to recognize the
fact that it is other peoples careless
ness. that lays our heaviest burdens
upon u.s. This is especially true as
regards. women, and there isn't a
mother and wife and housekeeper in
the land who doesn't know that 1t Is
. because her family don't think that
. size :nust slave at a never ending
JOB that has no letup from years end
: to years end.
Even. more to be deplored than this
is 1.-The lack Of thought we show in
: our conduct to those of our own
. household. and whose happiness or
misery lies in our hands 1 often
think that when the great judgment
day comes for each of US, and we
must answer for the deeds done in
the flesh. we shall not be so appalled,
by the one or two great wrongs we
may have. committed as by the thou
sand little acts OF criminal careless
oness sthat sdarken our past
THE sADDEST SIGHT
What. for instance. are those hus-
bands going to say who took the
jewel Of woman's happiness In their
keeping and then were so careless
sthat they threw II away? The world
Is full of heart hungry wives. VINO
are starving for a little appreciation.
a little love. little praise We don't
recognize II as a tragedy because we
are too familiar with Il; but there is
really no sight sadder than that of
the woman who spends her life trying
10 please husband who accepts her
labor without thanks, who passes
oSer her achievements without com.