Houghton High School - Amygdaloid Yearbook (Houghton, MI)

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Page24 THE AMYGDALOID three blocks from the car line to his home he has not an even chance of arriving there safely. Murder, hold-up, bank robbery and auto-stealing are the usual topics on the front page of our morning paper, the sheet would be exceptionally placid without them. Not hearing anything definite to the con- trary, we begin to be convinced that there is a crime wave. Having this idea fixed in mind, we come to the realization that something must be done. Very reasonable, to be sure, but exactly what? To answer this question we look into the causes of the crime. First of all there is the laxity with which justice is administered in the average Unit- ed States court, then the abuses of the bail privilege and paroles. Second is the disregard for life which seems to be blamed on the war. If this feel- ing exists, there is nothing better than the shadow of a rope to sober the criminal into realizing that life shall not be taken delib- erately. Then there is the increased chance of a getaway which is provided by the auto- mobile. Why is it that the criminal is tak- ing advantage of the fruits of progress while the law lags behind? Justice may be blindfolded, but she should realize that she can't fight a revolver with a pair of scales. Also we have excellent chances of getting free if caught, by means of either a lawyer or a bonding company. There is a certain class of lawyers which caters to the criminal and which finds it worth its while to get a man free regardless of his guilt or inno- cence. There are also bonding companies whose representatives are looked on as friends by the criminal world and who, be- ing notified beforehand of coming crimes, are on deck to bail out any of the crooks who are so unfortunate as to be caught. One man in New York, who had been bailed three times, when caught red-handed in a hold-up trick, said that he needed the money to pay his bail bonds and lawyers. Finally we have loose laws regarding fire- arms. Revolvers should be given only to authorized persons. The armed robber is a murderer at heart. He will shoot if nec- essary, and in many cases he pulls the trig- ger before his victim shows any sign of re- sistance. The penalties provided by law are severe enough if they were only enforced. The United States should make punish- ment quick and certain. The sooner the criminal world realizes that we are through compromising with crime, the sooner will the evil cease, The delay which some of our courts allow in the handling of crim- inal cases increases the chances of acquittal for the accused. The judge can, and often does, speed up a case by keeping the argu- ments as much as possible on the essentials and eliminating much irrelevant material. Arrangement of the court calendar so as to do away with long lapses of time between arrest and trial will accomplish the same purpose. A wonderful example of speed in the han- dling of crime is shown by the case of George Gares, of New Jersey, who mur- dered a five-year-old girl on December 22, 1921. He was arrested two days later, and was brought to trial in the supreme court of New Brunswick on January 4, found guilty January 5, and sentenced to die in the week ending February 6. This gives a striking contrast to the methods of prac- tically any other state in the union. In a report on the New York reforma- tories, it was seen that out 22,000 cases only four were college graduates and out of 1,000 only 7 per cent finished high school and 25 per cent completed the grammar school, while 6-L per cent went only to the primary grades. Here is evidence that even a moderate amount of schooling is a positive and active deterrent to crime. According to statistics, the criminal is not born, he is made. The early environment is in almost every case the cause of a young

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THE AMYGDALOID Page23 whether she should join 'Sis' or take a course in Interior Decorating. Matt Kesti made a daring flight from Alaska to South Africa. I often wondered who would be the aviator from our class. Geraldine MacDonald, you know, took up ballet dancing. After she became tired of dancing' in this country, she took a trip to Egypt, where she is now dancing for her King. lfVe hardly expect her back, for she is quite satisfied there. VVhen I was still in Europe, Prof. Mil- ton Grams' book, 'How to Assume Knowl- edge,' was being published in Italy. At last Mutt has revealed the secrets which we all could have gladly used at school. On picking up the London Times I read 'John Marshall Has Perfected Radio in Turkeyf From the article I learned that john went to Turkey to be far away from the girls, for whom he always thought that he had a fatal charm, and he is now making a serious study of radio and related sub- jects. In Paris, Amanda Brunet was on a pur- chasing trip for the Warrick Department Store. No' doubt you have heard that Jo- seph W'arrick established quite a trade at Boston, Michigan, and Amanda is in charge of the Purchasing Department. Elizabeth Richards has invented a new kind of hair net which is guaranteed for a year. I am sure she will meet with success with this. A few weeks ago I had the opportunity to go through the University of Berlin, and I was surprised to find that Russell Bergh is a professor of zoology, and at that time he was experimenting with a butterfly. At this same university Lydia Kotila is at the head of the Latin Department. This did not surprise me, because I expected that Lydia would advance along educational lines after her fine record in high school. Priscilla Miron is quietly leading the younger generation along the paths of knowledge. She is teaching the primary grades in a country school. Margaret Healy, active in planned a trip for a dozen or more young people to Yellowstone Park Canyon. Aileen Pelkonen is owner printing house and is now busy getting in- vitations ready for the 10th Anniversary of the Class of '23. Oh, there's the bell ! exclaimed Lucille. I must be ready for a rehearsal in five minutes. How I have enjoyed talking about our class l society, has and Grand of a large Classmates, this is all a dream. Tlfs is what I heard and saw in my dreamg so fashion your futures according to your abilities. THE CRIME WAVE L. J. GILLES If we assume the protection of life and property to be the first function of govern- ment, then government is failing in the United States today. Crime in our cities is no longer an occu- pation of the individual, but it is a highly organized industry like a great chain store system, and in its organization legal talent plays an important part. The nine thousand murders committed in our country last year conclusively prove that killing is a trade. In New York City alone during the first three and one half months of 1922 we have record of one hundred murders and one hundred and twenty-six holdups. And New York is not an exception. The reports from San Francisco, Chicago, Atlanta, Los An- geles, Philadelphia, Kansas City and other large centers put them on a par with New York. If a man living in a city walks

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THE AMYGDALOID Page25 man's going wrong. And what are we go- ing to do about it? I cannot say. But what we should do is to take hold of the two great deterrents to crime, environment and schooling, and use them to good purpose. By bettering the living conditions of our less fortunate countrymen in the slum dis- tricts and keeping the older criminals where they belong, behind the bars, so they can- not exert their iniiuence on the growing minds, we will take care of environment. As to the second, we should have strict observance of the laws regarding school at- tendance. The age li1nit must be kept as high as possible, and permission to stop ,school to go to work should not be given unless the case has been thoroughly investi- gated. Then if a child must work, he CLASS FLoRENCE They had chosen me Ugiftorianf' And I knew not what to dog So I puzzled o'er the problem Keeping just one thing in view. Let each one accept their gift With the thought that lies behind it, And if you think the lines clcn't fit. Smile anyhow, and don't mind it. I am pretty well acquainted With all your personal inclinationsg To draw them out, enlarge on them, Was a liberal education. My endless task at the ten-cent store Vilas really quite a pleasure, I've taken pains to gather A token you might treasure. Marcella Allie We have these cards for Marcella On which to take down notesg She can use them on the platform When she works for Women's Votes. should be forced by law to attend a part- time or night school. The crime wave must stop. Statistics show that better early environment and more schooling will improve conditions. Let us seize these weapons and use them. Let us give every man, woman or child in the country a clean, healthy place to live and develop physically. Let us give him an ed- ucation that will fit him to be a useful, eni- cient, and law-abiding member of society. Let us make opportunities for higher edu- cation as numerous and as good as possible. But if one or an other shall fall by the way- side, then a prompt punishment must be meted out not only for the sake of his fu- ture conduct and the conduct of others, but also for the safety and welfare of human- ity. GIFTS RICHARDS Stella Armstrong Stella Armstrong is well liked By all, in any season, The secret of her charm is just Like Postum- there's a reason. Russell Bergh Russell, if you've a task on hand And are not keen to do it, Think of the modest postage stamp, Success means sticking to if. Florence Brimacombe This cap-shaped net for Florence I selected with great care: Without a hat she need not have A thought about her hair. Daniel Brown This pair of rubber heels for Dan Will not make any noise At three o'clock in the morning, After a night with the boys. Amanda Brunet A variety of hair pins Are in this little box g