BITTER FRUITS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume VII, Issue 369, 14 May 1880, Page 11

BITTER FRUITS.

(From the Melbourne Advocate.) A CASE of youthful depravity, so shocking that we abstain from giving the few particulars of it reported in Wednesday's paper, was before the City Court the previous day. The evidence exposed the grossest immorality in the relationship between a girl of 17 or 18 years of age and several decently-dressed boys, who were about the same age, or perhaps in one or two cases a little older. We are credibly informed that these children were educated at State schools, and if our information be, as we believe, correct, what a terrible commentary the case is on the disclosures of a State school teacher, to which, only a few weeks past, we referred. In a letter which appeared in the Argus of Wednesday, " Assistant," alluding to the evils resulting from Major Smith's anti-flogging circular, cays : — " Schools can be found and are known where swearing and disgusting language in the playground are taken no notice of, where lieing is often overlooked, and where the evils of fighting are left to right themselves. For all faults, such as the want of preparation of lessons, &c, which tend to bring down the percentage, the head masters arc quick enough to take account, but not so with those which are only immoral in their effects." The teachers are only solicitous for their own interests ; they close their eyes " to faults that are only immoral in their effects." Is it any wonder that, under such a system, disclosures to which we can but barely allude are becoming common? Already we are too frequently called upon to direct the attention of Catholic parents to the bitter fruits of godless education, and it is inevitable that the occasion for doing so will beome still more frequent with the lapse of time. Our community cannot possibly escape the blighting effects of that system wherever it has existed for any time.

Mr. John White, a convert to Catholicity, and for some time the organist of Dr. Hall's Presbyterian Church in Kew York City, has entered the novitiate of the Congregation of St. Paul, in New York City. Mr. White is one of the most accomplished young organists in this country.