SUGGESTIVE FACTS.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIII, Issue 35, 27 December 1895, Page 17

SUGGESTIVE FACTS.

+ FFENCES against the law are not to be attributed to the absence of religions training in schools, but to the neglect of the parents to bring their children up in the way they should go." Who says so? A Mr Crsagh, at • school break-up in Oamaru. This gentleman, who is a lawyer, finds that New Zealand parents fall far short of their duty. He waxes eloquent on the poor look-out for the future generation, and yet does not seem to see that the absence of religious training in schools has heavy accountability. Taking human nature as we find it, where will children be tiained if religious teaching be neglected in school ? Mr Creaqh should have declaimed against the neglect of parents to secure their children the moral training given in religious schools, as being largely responsible for the evils of the day. When will our fellow colonists lay the cause at the right door ? Surely they have sufficient matter for serious reflection. Take, for instance, the increasing number of suicides, even among the young. A few months ago a boy of 14 in Hull, England, committed suicide by placing himself on the rails as a train came dashing along. Crime only repeats itself. Some years ago an American lad, of the very same age, flung himself on a railway track. The brakesman, who looked on, powerless to save, saw the child of fourteen raise his head once, give a brief glance at the locomotive as it rushed madly towards him, and then, trembling, bury his face in his hands J Child suicides cease to be marvelled at. Out of 60,000 suicides in Europe, 2,000 are those of children. It is harrowing reading. We shall give only a few out of many terrible incidents. A boy of sixteen in Philadelphia shot himself over the grave of his pet dog. A European boy of nine drowned himself at the loss of his pet canary. A lad of seven drowned himself because his mother would not give him any lunch. A thirteen-year old son of a Southern States farmer committedjsuicide because his mother punished him for some trifling offence. The records show that from twelve to sixteen is the age when children without religious and moral restraint are prone to self-destruc-tion. Americans can furnish more suicide horrors than other countries, and have more than their share of juvenile crime. Were it not for what happens in our midst we shonld" scarcely credit the statement that " a thirteen-year old boy adroitly robbed his employer, and then started promptly* for the far West to speculate with his stolen capital." Someone has said, not without reason, that there are no children nowadays. A nine-year old boy killed his brother some time ago in the States. The infantile murderer coolly informed the Court that he didn't see "much good in a brother anyway"! Our ways are fast becoming Americanised. The children will soon imitate their

American cousins if something is not quickly done to secure the moral restraint which religion alone can give. The evils we mention, the minor troubles mentioned by Mr Crbagh will not be remedied till parents realise and do their duty on the school question. Without doubt unhealthy literature is immediately responsible for much juvenile crime. A " penny- dreadful crusade" is much needed in New Zealand. Parents are to blame for allowing their boys and girls to purchase the worse than trash sold openly in bookstalls . But the remedy lies deeper. Unless restrained by the safeguards of religion, children will go wrong, and even anxious parents will be powerless. The child only a few hours in the day, on an average, under the tired, worried parental eye cannot advance much in that morality whose sanctions are not mentioned in the many hours of daily school life.

OwiKa to the Christmas holidays our issue is early this week - we go to press on Tuesday. Hence several school reports and other matter are held over till next week.

We learn with deep regret of the death of Rev Brother Joseph (aged 45) who departed this life rather suddenly at Auckland last week. The post mortem examination showed death to have been due t j aneurism of the heart. Bi other Joseph was extremely popular, and deservedly held in highest esteem. Tha children and people of Christchurch will ioin their co-religionists of Anckland in sincerest sympathy with the Marist Brothers in the great loss sustained by the death of their amiable, energetic and most zealous confrere. May his soul rest in peace, and the great reward of those who instruct othars unto justice be Mb portion:

Thebb was a large attendance at 8t Joseph's school (says the OavM.ru Mail) when the grand art union in aid of the basilica debt fond was drawn, the Mayor (Mr H. Aitkenj presiding. The draw wan condooted without any hitch amid the suppressed excitement which generally prevails upon «o momantons an occasion. The result of the draw appears elsewhere. The prizes were widely distributed, Oromarty, Orepnki (Southland), Springbank (Ohristchurch), and Beefton being all represented, while^several have gone to the Arrowtown district. The first prise is a handsome painting, together with a mite of furniture, while the sicond carries a free trip to Melbourne or Sydnay at the will of the lucky boldar. The Mayor, referring to the work exhibited by the girls, expressed hia astonishment at its excellence; He had no idea that such work could be produced by the girla attending the Dominican Convent. In an interesting little glance at the past he referred to the time when he came to Oamaru to find it without churches, schools, or any other public institution. The young men of to-day had much to be thankful for in this respect: Although their fine basilica was Btill unfinished, he hoped that the art union would suffice to wipe off the small debt upon it and to do something towards its completion.