White's j.ici]Ler the poor grow poorer. Between Dives and Lazarus
on the the great gulf fixed becomes deeper, wider and blacker, month
Future -^^ month and year by year."
As Empire builder, he wept over the coming decay, which
was most evident in the large cities. The process steadily
continues.
The rich do not feel it, for they can still feast upon the ruins
with the power and opportunity that wealth confers ; but the
middle class are now feeling the cruel chill blast which has
worked wreckage at the base of the Empire.
It may seem feeble to resort to simile for descriptive purposes,
yet one can often drive a truth home with more clearness in this
manner. The Empire is like a prosperous man whose end is
drawing near. His children, the Colonies, are floated and self-
supporting.
Serious indeed is the condition of the heart of the sick Empire.
The life ^ stream is oozing therefrom, and if it continue must
hasten the end. The head ^ is clear and the arms ^ are strong,
and so a false security exists, but the body appears to be
failing fast.
Empire Empire building is the main object of every true Briton,
Buildmg ^^^ ^^^ rising generation must be educated up to it.
What is Empire building ?
Is it Conscription ? or Protection, or Education, or Religion,
or Emigration, or any other " ions " ?
These are but feeble tonics, of which none cures.
There is only one way of Empire building, and that is
altruism ^ toward the masses, instead of the egotism of the
classes. The increased Empire wrecking is due to egotism,
and that alone.
1 The starving poor, the future strength of the nation.
2 Science. ^ Commerce.
* Alter, another. The thinking of others ; loving oiir neighbours.
EMPIRE BUILDING 239
As already pointed out the Briton is essentially a sports- Briton a
man, retaining an ancestral instinct, necessary to primeval man ; ^°^'
perhaps inherited from the carnivora ; and engrained, in
both, in the lower cortical strata of the brain. It rests with
the evolution of the higher cortical layers, the pyramidal cells,
to control and guide this dominant killing instinct.
Is not this sporting instinct the source of aU political passion
and strife ? It is the essence of courtship, marriage, com-
merce, and efficiency.
I should be very sorry to stir up the wrath of the legal Law is an
profession at a period when we want their sympathy and tualForm
assistance, for we are entirely in their power, and absolutely of Sport
at their mercy. Nevertheless, if I quote one of their noblest
members. Sir Edward Clarke, I shaU obtain support for the
course I am taking.^ At a dinner of the Medico-Legal Society
(1907), he compared the doctor, toiling for love in the slum, with
the barrister at work in his luxurious chambers ; and further
enlarged on the disappointment that a sensitive and honourable
lawyer must feel at the results and character of legal methods.
It is, however, only an excess of the sporting instinct, perhaps
unguided by and beyond the control of the true or higher Ego.
There is constant evidence of this instinct in the desire of
counsel to win their client's cause, whatever justice demands.
The same temptation to err from rectitude does not obtain
among the ordinary pursuits of the doctor, for, as Sir Edward
Clarke said, he " was always on the right side, working for the
cause of suffering," The lower hunting instincts of the doctor
are, however, painfully revealed when he is drawn into legal
work, and the way in which two doctors will swear to diametri-
cally opposite opinions is a mystery to the intelligent public.
The late Lord Brampton, Sir Henry Hawkins, was a keen
sportsman, and I observe a quotation from his Reminiscences,
which demonstrates how this ancestral hunting instinct may
dominate the Ego and subjugate the higher morale.
" One of the least known stories, but at the same time one
of the most characteristic, was recounted by him in his
Reminiscences. Hawkins had made a touching speech,
and had succeeded in getting a prisoner acquitted on a charge
^ See Transactions of Medico-Legal Society, vol. iv, p. 107.
240 EDUCATION, PERSONALITY AND CRIME
of murder by exhibiting in court the children of the accused
dressed in black clothes, and sobbing as though their hearts
would break. The sequel is thus described —
" ' You made a touching speech, Mr, Hawkins,' said an old
inhabitant of the village.
" ' Well,' I answered, ' it was the best I could do under the
circumstances."
" ' Yes,' he said, ' but I don't think you would have painted
the little home in such glowing colours if you had seen
what I saw last week, when I was driving past the cottage.
No, no ; I think you'd have toned it down a bit.'
" ' What was it ? ' I asked. ' Why,' said the old inhabi-
tant, ' the little children who sobbed so violently in court this
morning, and to whom you made such pathetic reference,
were playing on an ash heap near their cottage, and they had
a poor cat with a string round its neck, swinging backwards
and forwards, and as they did so they sang —
This is the way poor daddy will go !
This is the way poor daddy will go !
Such, Mr. Hawkins, was their excessive grief.'
" ' Yes, but it got the verdict.'
As this is but a type of what occurs in our Courts of Justice,
one can only deplore the want of relationship between Law
and true Justice which includes truth, righteousness, and the
public " weal."
Considering that the legal profession always includes some
of the noblest and most intellectual men of the age, it is extra-
ordinary that such conditions continue. Let us, at aU events,
hope that the sporting pendulum does not swing too far in
the opposite direction, to the danger of the innocent.
Sport thus uncontrolled and unguided, tends towards
depravity and inefficiency in rich and poor alike.^
Sporting It is often asked why the Franks, Latins, Russ, or Teutons,
Ancestral have nothing equal to the Briton's sporting qualities,
from The reason is clearly the isolation of our ancestors ; which
Britons insularity sharpened their propensities for protection and
^ For fixrther light on this subject read Arnold White's book, The
Problems of a Great City, which ought to be carefully studied in the
hope that the next generation will get the Empire on its feet again.
EMPIRE BUILDING 241
preservation. Whereas on the vast continents, if food failed
in one area the tribes could wander to another. They were
like the less energetic herbivora ; whereas we were obliged
to be always on the look-out, like the carnivora.
Such was evidently our type, and being conquered, we
absorbed the better qualities of our conquerors, but this
ancient instinct continued to assert itself.
Ancient Britons would by division of labour necessarily
form two classes ; the warriors, and the suppliers of food,
hunters and pastoral workers. We have built our social
system on the same plan. We have our army and our com-
merce. Even the scientist is a hunter, seeking for useful
knowledge and truth.
In ancient Britain there were many clans, and if the hunters
went to war famine followed ; or if the warrior left to hunt,
the internecine enemies invaded their territory.
Hence each had his office, and so it should remain. The
hunters of commerce and science build up a complex system,
which to be prosperous requires all their time and energy.
The warriors quite justly receive a liberal portion of what the
hunters acquire in return for peace, protection and opportunity
for progress, or even for steaUng their weaker neighbours'
territory.
But the warrior must not hunt, lest the enemy attack us ; Conscrip-
nor can the hunter leave his work to do what falls to the lot
of the warrior. This principle must guide us in national politics,
and if followed might save us from panics.
As with the body we have head, arms, legs ; so the nation
in health relies upon science, commerce and stability, which
cannot be parted or separated. A human being is capable
of a certain or limited amount of energy. If, by way of illus-
tration we represent that energy as 1,000 units, a conscript
at the "foot " of the Empire will use up 600 units to become
a reliable soldier. If, on the other hand, we take the same
number of units from the brain worker, who requires that
amount for his own purposes, the loss falls on the nation.
Similarly the nation's hands, as types of her commerce, cannot
spend two-thirds of their energy on military affairs without
losing in skilled industry.
242 EDUCATION, PERSONALITY AND CRIME
The military spirit, essentially sporting, belongs to the lower
instincts. Far preferable is the activity of the upper cortex,
which would quell jealousy, and lead to friendly intercourse
amongst all peoples. Our Empire is the highest amongst
nations, and its fighting instincts have in recent years wasted
in consequence ; we must not now stoop to others, but rather
draw them up to our level.
The Where we are gradually bleeding to death is in our neglect
Bleeding of the poor, especially the children. There pass through our
to Death prisons every year more than 16,000 bright, intelligent, promis-
ing young lads. These are the future hope of the nation,
perverted and perhaps alienated, but yet capable of salvation
by wise methods.
It is not their fault. It is your fault and my fault. We
are the criminals, they are the sufferers. Perhaps it would
be more correct to lay the chief blame on the State, which
is paramount to saying that it is the chief offender against
justice and humanity.
We cannot ignore the very simple arithmetical facts that the
boys of fifteen lying in misery in our gaols will be twenty-five in
ten years. They will then reach maturity and the stage of pro-
creation. Let us make the modest calculation of three children
to each grown up man, and we have 50,000 British subjects
of a soiled and probably soured inheritance from these 16,000
young convicts. It is clearly an unwise policy to grind the
poor, and such a policy must bring a reaction. What a differ-
ent feeling these young convicts would bear towards the State
if they were sent to reformatories in serious cases, and in minor
cases to institutions which might be called " National Schools,"
and carry no stigma. The state as guardian would be tied
by no limited period, and be bound to apprentice them, guard-
ing them till at the age of twenty-one their intellectual neurons
were developed. William Tallack, the prison reformer, would
surround these poor boys " with motives, not walls."
The nation is undoubtedly on a downward track if it per-
sists in this shameful neglect, and allows the good Samaritan
to work unaided ; it now even puts obstacles in his way as
he endeavours to rescue the perishing.
EMPIRE BUILDING 243
To sum up, humanity in ancient days received a chart to The True
guide a clear course over the troubled ocean of life. Some ^^^^iyg
say this chart was inspired, as it has stood the test of time
and criticism, for it is as apphcable to-day, as when it was
written. Man has not changed. His cortex was the same
in the days of Moses as now. He was as capable of wisdom
and altruism then as to-day.
Let us turn with more hope and cheer to see what the lovers
of mankind are doing for the Master's sake.
Conspicuous among all stands the Salvation Army. Some
don't like their ways ; I am always glad to hear people run
down the Army, because it is opposition which gives strength,
and helps to show the enormous work they are doing. These
operations and methods will stand the closest inspection.
The more the blast rages, the tighter do the mountain pines
cling to the rock.
Among the other numerous agencies and individuals hard
at rescue work of aU kinds which attracted me, and which I
shall now describe, were the Homes for homeless lads in
London ; the St. Giles Mission, which takes juveniles from the
poHce courts and prisons ; the Wesleyan Homes for orphans ;
and, finally, the work of the Jews amongst their own juveniles.
They are all Empire builders, and those of us who love the
Empire must not forget them.
Few people have any idea how many children are deserted A Sketch
by their parents. The cases are very seldom brought to light, ^ Social
for the children are oft-times absorbed by other famihes of among
the same class, or at once commence a career of their own in X°"^^
i eople
the tender teens. If thoroughly down on their luck, the
state thoughtlessly charges them with the crime of poverty,
or with wandering. Many cases are sent to prison, sometimes
several times over, and the evil associations inside the gaols
usually end in an apprenticeship to some hardened criminal.
Many of these children are rescued by the court missionaries
and placed in homes, where they settle down contentedly,
are found situations amongst kindly disposed employers, and
turn out remarkably well.
There are many courts where the magistrates have sym-
pathy with the poor. Conspicuous amongst these is that at
244 EDUCATION, PERSONALITY AND CRIME
Stratford, where the magistracy has been for long years
inoculated with Quakerism. I am told that for many years
no boys have been sent to prison at this court ; the magistrates
deal with them on humane lines, and seek normal shelter and
healthy influences for them.
Among the poor, child life passes through many phases ;
some are brought up on gin, others on beans and bacon.
When attached to a children's hospital as physician, I found
the usual answer of mothers as to dietary was, " Baby has
the same as we have." As a consequence of the deficient
supply of milk, rickets and tubercle are very common amongst
them. In Chapter IV development and growth are referred
to as depending on the healthy nerve nuclei of the brain.
These nuclei take up soluble phosphates and leicithin ^ from
the milk, just as the chick absorbs it from the yolk. No
leicithin, no growth. In America they are now trying to cure
rickets by the employment of leicithin. The poor, therefore,
should have the opportunity of getting good milk and plenty
of it.
A Typical
Slum
Family
The children of the poor are horribly neglected. How they
struggle through their first dozen years is a mystery. Take
one typical family under my own observation, honest, but
terribly poor. Here is the list of the eight children, who
with their parents sleep in two small rooms.
The family consists of three boys and five girls, as follows —
Sex.
Age.
Height.
Deficient.
Weight.
Deficient.
ft. in.
ins.
St. lb.
St. lb.
1
F.
14
4 9
2
4 10
2
2
F.
13
4 7
2
4
2 3
3
F.
11
4 2
3
3 10
1 2
4
F.
9
3 9
3
3 2
12
5
M.
6
3 3
4
1 12
1 4
6
M.
4
2 n
4
1 8
1 1
7
M.
3
2 5
6
1 4
1 2
8
F.
6 months
2 3
9
5
27 11
2 ft.
21 1
10 1
From these figures it is apparent that there is not enough
^ Leicithin is a complex neuro-phosphate.
From left to ricrht.
Ages
Heights
Weights
^5{^
4ft. 7^in. ; - Sin.
4St. lolb. ; -3st. 81b.
I4t^2
5ft. 4in. ; +3m.
8st. i2lb. ; +ist. i2lb
^n
5ft. ; -6in.
yst. gib. ; -2st.
15
4ft. 6in. ; -Sin.
5st. ; -2&t. 51b.
Facing page 243.
EMPIRE BUILDING 245
food to go round, and only two thirds of the children should
have been born. Don't let us, then, fight the Almighty on the
question of infant mortality.
A second period of helplessness seems to occur in the early
teens. 3y that time they have almost finished their " educa-
tion," and with what little intelligence the overstrain has left
they are cast out to seek their fortunes or misfortunes, which-
ever may come first.
In this second period you meet the boys in the many
" Homes " provided for them by free offerings. There are
not so many facilities for young girls, who usually go out as
drudges, or into factories, or make their living on the streets,
as we in hospitals know too well.
I will give details of a fair sample from the Homes for The Boys,
Working Boys in London. Homeless
There are about seven of these, accommodating sixty to as seen in
ninety boys in each home. Specially interesting is the home [[Jfj^*'^'
life in Haddo House, 88, Blackfriars Road, under the anxious
and loving care of Mr. and Mrs. Harrison. It does one good to
see the happy faces, however grimy, after they have had supper,
and are seeking some innocent fun. These poor lads are picked
off the streets, being usually too microscopic to attract the
attention of the police, and are of very poor physique, frequently
of very low morahty. I examined fifty-six boys. Of twenty-
two boys aged 15 and under ; I found the weight deficiency
to be 22 per cent. The deficiency among twenty-eight boys
aged 16 and 17; was 23 per cent; while six boys ranging
from 18 to 20 ; showed a loss of 20 per cent. Compare these
with the Jews. Their intelligence is low, and I have been
specially struck as to their memories. Few can remember any
event before they were 5, and many can only remember
to the ages of 8 or 10. This same mental oblivion is very
conspicuous amongst criminals, and has been fuUy discussed
in Chapter IX. A few may have had sober parents, but the
rule is drunkenness in one or both parents. At school very
few got beyond the fourth standard. {See Tables IV.)
Another typical institution is St. Giles' Mission, which has St. Giles'
been conducted by Mr. Wheatley for many years. Few people
246 EDUCATION, PERSONALITY AND CRIME
can estimate by reports the valuable work done here. In
the department I examined there are about 100 boys, well
fed, clothed and housed. This is the physical side or attraction
to the boys, let us call it the practical method of reform.
The boys, formerly outcasts, appreciate these healthy sur-
roundings ; therefore, there is no difficulty in detaining this
body of " juvenile or first offenders," as they are called.
They have been driven into crime ; some are only charged with
the crime of poverty or " wandering," the causes of which
are bad homes, cruel step-parents, fathers, or even mothers.
Alcoholic parentage figures largely ; and syphilitic in a few.
The table of twenty-five cases which I have submitted must
be a study for any thoughtful reader. {See Table III.)
The Effect Let US here consider State Education, and see how it acts.
" Educa- CJase — was the least educated, only reaching Standard I,
tion" which means simply infantile spelling and monosyllables.
This boy, a rover, freed from the exhausting state method,
attains normal height and weight. He was driven to thieving by
starvation, and received a month in prison. He, alas ! never
knew a father, and his mother had left him. He is described
as intelligent, that is, though deficient in " education," his
association, or higher intellect, has evolved by environment.
Let us go to the other extreme, and take Case — , who rose
as far as was possible, learning science in the Ex- VII Standard.
This boy was handicapped by the ante-natal poison of syphilis
from one or other parent, and presented many stigmata of
degeneration. He went wrong, having robbed his employer ;
but Mr. Wheatley saved him from prison through the kind
intercession of the injured employer. Intellectually he is
duU and deficient, having evidently poor association centres.
He is like a sponge, absorbing knowledge quickly, but unable
to use it, and not necessarily retaining it.
Deficiency These unfortunate lads show great deficiency in weight ;
in Weight ^j^g-j. |3odies are unable to nourish their brains.
The worst specimen. Case 55, at the age of 17 was 4| stones
too Hght. Nature resents civilization and pays back tit for
tat, turning him into a degenerate and deficient.
These juvenile first offenders afford a most interesting
From left to right.
Ages
Heights
I2f
4ft. iiin. ; +2in.
i7is
4ft. yin. ; -ift
isi
5ft. 4in. ; normal 1
2oi
5ft. yin. ; average )
i6H
5ft. 2in. ; — 4in.
Facing page 247.
Weights
6st. ; normal
6st. I lib. ; — 3st.
8st. 41b. ; normal
gst. 2lb. ; — ist. 2lb.
8st. 5in. ; — ist.
EMPIRE BUILDING 247
object lesson, for they show that want of nutrition and evil
nature go together.
Thus the twelve worst, really bad boys, should weigh 109
stones, but only weigh 86^ stones ; showing a deficiency of
21 per cent.
The thirteen less criminal, some of them " good " boys
capable of improvement, should weigh 11 7| stones ; but only
weigh 98| stones ; showing a deficiency of 16 per cent.
When the twenty-five are put together they show a deficiency
of 18| per cent.
The same class of boys among the Jews, due to family care
and religious training, do not sink into this state of immorality,
and their weight deficiency is only 8| per cent.
The Children's Home and Orphanage.
This institution, whose headquarters are at Bonner Road, A Short
Victoria Park, shelters and protects 1,850 children in its ten gf ^hg
branches. The Principal is the Rev. Dr. Gregory. Having Wesleyan
been consulted professionally many times during the last ^ort
twenty-five years, I am competent to criticize their methods.
They are, to my mind, perfect Empire builders, for they take
in children at any age, and never leave go until they reach
adolescence and are able to stand alone.
They are homes in the best sense of the word. The sexes
are not separated ; the children are clean, well clothed, and
have close personal supervision. Body, mind, morals and
rehgion all meet with close attention. No happier children
can be met with.
They have many invalids and cripples, but it is home for
them ; they know they will never be turned out. The sisters
are refined ladies of various Protestant denominations.
The rehgious training is strictly evangelical (Wesleyan),
and the results seem good, for they effect cures among many
"born" criminals.
The clever boys are taught trades, according to their abilities.
Others are emigrated to Canada, and carefully guarded there
until established.
I examined thirty-one boys out of 300 children at Bonner
Road, and asked for the best, the worst, and a fair sample.
248 EDUCATION, PERSONALITY AND CRIME
The girls do well there, up to their teens ; they are stronger,
healthier, and plumper than the boys.
The material is extremely valuable as a fair test for board
school methods. Those so educated show less of infantile
memory, whereas those taught in private and Church schools,
on more reasonable, humane, and intelligent Unes, retain
infantile memory to the ages of 3 and 4.
Ten of the worst boys ranging in age
from 9 to 20 weigh collectively . 52 st. 1 lb.
Instead of. . . . . . 66 „ 11 „
Showing a deficiency of . . . 14 „ 10 ,,
or about ^ (20 per cent,).
Only one boy was normal weight ; none were above
normal.
One boy, aged 14, was 2 st. below normal. The inference
is that three too many came into the world.
In regard to intelligence, eight were called dull, but were
in reality middle grade imbeciles, and if cast on the world
must become criminals.
Four were of weak morals, but are recovered or recovering
under the religious influences, which include sympathy.
There was no necessity for them to pilfer, as amongst many
of the poor, hence their pilfering shows an inborn instinct.
The starving poor have of course a moral right to pilfer the
necessities of life, as long as superabundant wealth is per-
mitted.
Memory : Only one boy can remember to the age of
4, but he was brought up at a Church school. He is
the most intelligent of those examined, but also weak
morally.
The other nine were all State educated, and the abnormal
pressure on their weak brains had destroyed their little intelli-
gence.
One boy, aged 15, can only remember to 9.
Another, aged 17, can only remember to 12.
Their parentage was not so bad as in other homes I visited.
Many of their parents had been good, but were unfortunate
in their worldly concerns.
Eleven of the best boys give us more cheer. Their ages
range from 14 to 20. They should weigh collectively 98 to
EMPIRE BUILDING 249
99 stones, and reach 96 stones, showing only a deficiency of
2 to 3 per cent.
None of these are deficient. They will compare with the most
favoured middle class, either in mind, or physique, and probably
better in morale owing to their religious training. The two
boys who are the most underweighted are the illegitimate
children of a lady by different fathers.
This group shows the advantage of private schools over