The New York herald., 1922-11-12

life, are reporting a great deal Of this
unpleasant thing. We observe that
many of the murderers, men and
women, are quite young, end that
youth figures largely in many CT the
scandalous affairs.
II believe that one of the reasons
many young people go wrong is that
1t is too easy for them to ge. living
or to get money to spend loosely.
There Is an abundance Of material
prosperity in this country. Wealth is
everywhere and much more widely
distributed than ever before. People
have great deal more money than
they used to have and they give more
to their children. They give gener-
ously, lovingly. but very thoughtlessly.
] am sure that this habit of providing
inexperienced young people with more
| money than Is good for them is re-
sponsible for the ruin Of many lives
and for great deal Of the in Jury done
| to society.
Back in 1880, when was a child at
Plymouth, VT, I remember that I
asked my father for a cent to buy some
loarhound candy. He heard me grave
ly and then informed me Just as
gravely that it looked to him as If a
Democratic President would be elected
that fall, and that it behooved every
prudent man to exercise especial thrift.
Therefore he would be obliged to deny
my request.
Now that sounds absurd in these
days when money is so plentiful and
loose and when parents in very modest
circumstances often give their children
fifteen or twenty dollars week as
mere spending money and not to be ac-
counted for at all; but there was a
great deal of sense in it, Children
brought up under that regime of thrift
and prudent forethought were better
off in later years han children treated
with unwise generosity.
Got His Cent After Election.
II got the cent after election. / re-
member, and when father was sure
the country was preserved from ruin
for at least another four years. He
took it out of, that old pewter teapot
you see above us on the mantelpiece.
N">~" "e@e 'hOshVA %, eiid tiiftt was WlleTe
father and mother saved the little
extra coins that came in so usefully
from time to time.
I'm these days" continued the Vice.
President in his drawing, twanging
voice. H'children get about what they
ask for, not what the wise Judgment OF
their parents should dictate. Their
pockets are filled with money. and out
hey go to do the most natural thing in
the world--purchase pleasure, all the
pleasure their easy money will buy.
The taste for pleasure is formed as
he taste for thrift and work is killed.
Later on, in natural development Of
things. the taste for pleasure becomes
so strong that 1t must be satisfied at
any cost If crime has to be resorted
to, that price is paid. Often, as we
see, this Incorporate pursuit of plea
sure becomes mania, an obsession.
leads to crimes in which the problems
OF sex are involved. II leads often to
Illicit relationships, which are paid for
in death and disgrace The parent who
unthinkingly showers money upon his
children is doing terribly dangerous
thing-a thing he may live to repent In
agony of spirit and in bitter shame.
Thrift brought Into Contempt.
| AS to how our national habit Of
! overlooking children with money.
which comes to have no value to the
children. is affecting ue as people.
think that ii is hurtful to us. II brings
thrift into contempt. 1t induces too
many young people to seek the white
collar jobs rather than honest, re-
| spectacle, well paid manual employ
ment of which the country stands in
so much need.
There is danger In all this, vet the
situation is not irreparable. Much can
be corrected in this generation and a
complete cure could be found in the
next. The conditions are regrettable,
but not fatal. While the country may
be said to be spotted with crime, yet
crime is the unusual thing in Ameri-
can life."
/ The vice-President lifted himself
from that abyssmal Morris chair and
walked to the window which gave
upon the placid New England street
with the white cottages. the naples
and the elms. He said:
Stand here with me. Look across
the way. Do you see that very pretty
/ house that is being completed, the
/ modified Colonial house? That is being
built oy young man we are all
rather proud of for having made his
way so triumphantly. He is about to
be married. Soon he win move in
/ there with his bride. Another family
will be started In free America. Very
well. Keep that little picture in your
mind"
He turned to the center table, slid
out "A drawer and showed a newspaper
clipping. a photograph OF the Jersey
farmhouse near where the bodies OF
Mrs. Mills and Or. Hall were found.
Publication Of Crime News.
you see this is the kind of picture
the newspapers like to print" Mr..
Coolidge resumed. And they arc
probably right Their pttitude is mn