The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1916-04-04
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thrills, delight in sociological discus
sions respecting the mental, moral and
commercial depravity of the residents of
this community. NebuIous associations
are formed to assist in our uplift, and
highbrows erequisitioned, who, because
of the largeness bestowed, become in
toxicated with the exuberance of their
exotic literary frenzies. The mere fact
that our critics never visit this locality
is beside the question, as instead of act
ing as deterrant it seems to stimulate
their flow of physchanalytic utterances.
1t is exceedingly difficult to combat
the fraud which turks in loose general
tiles, hence it is refreshing to occasional
ly get hold OF something tangible to
demonstrate the errors spread by the
clusoIious. One of our critics asserted in
the public press that there were 1000
imbecile children in the pines. Wood
land township consists of $1,000 acres,
and the census taker last June gave a
total population of 900 souls, and the
number Of children, under Is years of
age as 280. We trust the dispositions
of our reverend writer are not usually SO
erroneous. He should not have indulg-
ed in statistics.
The establishment of colony for the
feeble-minded in this township is a par
ticular juicy bone for our detractors TO
pick at, as it seems to convey that such
an institution is primarily planted here
for our immediate benefit. As matter
OF fact, out Of its forty inmates, only
one or two belong to this community,
and their board is paid for by their rel
atives. II the imbecilic are SO plenti
full in our midst it is strange factor
that we care for outsiders and neglect
our own.
| The average resident of this com
munity is equal, mentally and physical
ly, to the average mortal residing else
where. His outlook, owing to environ
ment, is narrower, but maybe keener,
due to concentration, since his mental
energies are conserved, not dissipated.
But given an isolated community where
life is tolerably even. easy and bounti-
full, certain idiosyncracies are bound to
develop, the inhabitants become passive,
there is no occasion for militancy, the
woods are open to all to pick berries in,
and cunningness undermines and in
large measure replaces strife. If we
neither see. hear or say anything and
cultivate the habits of negation to a
high plane we cannot be made to prove
Anything, nor can we get into trouble,
and it is those very habits of secrecy an
Iinocuousness which lends strength tc
the charges of our detractors, and has
also enabled certain newcomers in this
community to pursue career of crime
unchecked and UNPUBLISHED.
Alphabetically and industrially ouI
land is worthless, yet a few brigands
have been allowed to exploit it fraudu
lently, promising remunerative employ
ment and bumper crops to all purchasers
of lots paying from 500 TO $500 per lot
Unfortunates have been brought here
from all parts of the country, have beer
robbed and have been unable to obtain
redress. Our squire, before whom all ap
peared, has been convicted twice in this
county, yet he seems to be considered
the right man in the right place.
Our realty concern owns one-half-
and the more valuable-section of oul
township, yet the collected taxation fol
the last year amounted to only 81, 800
and as there are about IS houses paying
an average tax of SIS each, tOtallinl
Isl, 125-our realty concern which will
Isell, build or improve, and our cranberry
boys, which are valued at about S., OUl
per acre, are getting off lightly to say
the least, and it would be interesting tt
learn how it is arranged.
NO reliable fire insurance company
will accept any business from this tern.
tory at the present time owing to the
large number of accidental" fires in the
past. This community may need grace
and enlightment but, like the tariff, ii
should begin from above, downward,
our law authorities should show little
more zeal in enforcing the statutes Sc
that any who are unfit to administer
justice should not be in a position to
make caricature of all efforts to en-
courage local order, public decency or a
respect for ordinances. Our citizens
Ishould be encouraged to denounce crime,
and not through fear of reprisals, pre-
tend to know nothing, thus showing a
pusillanimity that is unbearable, but
which, under the circumstances now OBJ.
tanning, is least prudent.
One of our weaknesses in the past has
been the low standard of our schools
teachers and school boards, but mighty
effort is now being made by our State
Department to improve conditions, and
its representatives, Messrs. Morse and
Stees, are working in harmony with ouI
q nd MI &c
ed.
have no patience with those pseudo
scie ntists that necessarily prattle about
Jour degeneracy, imbecility, &C., &c, and
then pass around the hat for the pur,
pose of obtaining funds to improve oul
conditiOns-theiI aims are too obvious
and only land the Notwithstanding. If the
Idepraved conditions exist, winch is
Publicly charged against us, what actions
i are being taken to punish, segregate and
eliminate the causes? Really, to my
mind, those agitators are indicting the
prosecutors Office for negligence.
Respecting our so-called poverty.
stricken condition, this township for a
namber of years has appropriated $2OC
ANNUALLY for the relief of the poor, and
the only time within recent years when
that fund has been called upon, was two
years ago to purchase a coffin for the
burial of an infant.
1t is about time that the calumnies oil
Jour detractors should cease, or the lat.
ter should be compelled to prove their
Icharges. Those parties who necessarily
discuss subjects rarely heard outside a
physicians Office, and indulge in details
respecting conditions practiced in secret
Ionly by the depraved manifest symp-
tom which the phychiatrist promptly
labels. A healthy mind finds no pleas
ure in the relation of sordid deeds, a dis
eased mind imagines. conjures up and
dwells on conditions which harmonizes
with its prejudices and desires, irrespec
tive of its unrealities. A little inquiry
will reveal the fact that they are fully
abreast of the times, having devoureC
all the literature relating to such sub
Ijects published in recent years. KeeI
them from your homes and sphere O
activities. advise them to obtain medi
cal treatment in order to avoid crimina
prosecution.
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