The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1916-12-15
Another Community Christmas Tree
Is Staged.


Tree and Community Christmas.
This is the one season of the year
above every other when the thoughts
of all return to the young child the
one season above all others when men
ano women should open hearts and
loosen purse strings and allow 1.-THE.
little child to lead them"
It is hoped that this year in Edgerton
men and women will respond to the ap-
peal for a Community Christmas even
more cheerfully than last year.
There are many discouraging fea-
lures in connection with charity work
of any kind and Edgerton has its prob
lens in this line. Some complaints
have come to the committee in charge
of the work last year that charity was
given where men and women were not
deserving; but the thought in the minds
of the committee was not so much for
the men and women, but that every
child in Edgerton should taste some
what of the Joy of Christmas that he
should at least be well fed and warm
on Christmas day.
This year, in addition to what was
done last year.. it is hoped to give to
the people of Edgerton, the children
especially, during the winter months at
least, the services of visiting nurse.
There are in this country three classes
of people of sub-normal mentality-in
the first class are those corresponding
in mentality to the child of two years
and under; I'd, those ranging from two
to eight years, and Sd, those from eight
to twelve years and it is to this latter
class the great per cent of crime
throughout our country is responsible.
This sub-normal condition is brought
about by several causes, such as hered-
ity, intemperance, social evils, etc. We
have here in Edgerton, as in every city,
examples of these various conditions
and to these are due many of the per-
picking problems of city government.
And the most pitiable part of the
whole affair is that every child born of
sub-normal parents is doomed to go
through life mentally deficient. With
the best we can give he can never
measure up to the standard of normal
mentality, and the generation to follow
will again be sub-normal.
No child is born into the world from
choice; he has therefore an inalienable
right to be born with healthy body
which shall be we'll nurtured after his
arrival Upon these two things. nature
and nurture, depend very largely the
mental and moral development of the
man.
An examination of fifty-one boys
under nineteen years of age, who were
time ago, disclosed the fact that only
one was of normal mentality. This
class of people are most easily influence
ed, and of the erring women In the
country the greater per cent are sub
normal.
Throughout the country at the pres
ent time strong emphasis is laid upon
segregation for these children and the
| enactment and strict enforcement of
strong eugenic laws which shall pre-
vent marriage among these classes.
| In this state there are = ub-normals
| at the present time and we have only
| one home for the care of such children.
This is at Chippewa Falls and accom-
| modates 300. A new home is in pro-
cess of construction which will accom-
modate 500. But it is at once apparent
that this will not begin to cover the
need. Each county should make pro-
vision for cases occurring within that
county. These people are detained in
these homes until FL years of age and
every influence for higher development
mentally and morally is brought to bear
upon them.
Another evil responsible for many of
the conditions existing is moral sin. In
vestigation of the cases of insanity ex-
listing today showed that IS per cent
had syphilis in the blood-the rest are
due to heredity. This means that every
influence possible should be brought to
bear upon the moral development of
the child.
These facts are awakening people
everywhere to a sense of responsibility
they owe to this matter and realizing
the necessity for better conditions sur
rounding child life-the Westinghouse
movement is going forward all over our
country.
1t seems fitting that at this Christ
mas season this should be one of our
gifts to our city. 1t is the wish OF
many of the citizens of Edgerton that
this movement may become perma-