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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 369
Besides,, homicidal mania is aided by the press. The glaring
headlines which recite the ghastly minutiae of the crime
incite others to go and act likewise. If the press would
only be silent about murders and suicides we should have a
great deal less crime in the land, and it is very gratifying
to see that there are at least some newspapers, for instance
a Christian Science publication, which refuses to print any-
thing that is not good.
As to the part of the question which says, "Is death
not better than imprisonment for life?" we may say "Per-
haps, under the present conditions of prison regime, it is."
But that branch of our institutions also calls for reform
and we have much to do and undo in our treatment of thosi
whom we call criminals. They are our brothers, just as
much as flTe~~so-called respectable members of society who
have not yet committed the unpardonable crime of being
found out. It is true that we have made prison life some-
what better and less barbaric than it used to be. It is
also true that we have probation and suspended sentences
nowadays, but we are far from treating these weaker
brothers properly yet. If we could understand thoroughly
fhat they are our brothers and treat them as we would
treat a weak brother who was the son of our own mother,
we should be doing nearer right, for who amongst us if
his own brother committed a wrong would send him to
prison with scorn or call him "jail bird" when he had
served his sentence, or ostracise him for life because of a
weakness? When a person is sick with typhoid fever we
do not get angry with him and send him to the hospital
for a month ; we send him there until cured, we take good
care of him, and aim to aid him in recovering his health,
and we rejoice with him when he is well. A criminal is
weak and mentally sick. He should not be sent to prison