ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS OF AMERICA. 187 



ing to past census reports, crime has more than doubled every 

 ten years for the past half-century, the importance of this subject 

 becomes manifest. The most practical and successful trial of the 

 advanced method in this country is seen at the Elmira Reforma- 

 tory. Here the prisoner goes to school and receives the needed 

 bodily and mental training, by which it is endeavored to form a 

 stable base for moral improvement. 



In conclusion, we must repeat that, in our consideration of 

 the defective and delinquent classes, more attention should be 

 given to 'prevention. Let our greatest energies be devoted to com- 

 bating the conditions that are at work in society producing the 

 unfit, rather than so industriously providing for their survival. 

 When such a class is formed, it should be permanently isolated 

 from the rest of society. Recent legislation in Ohio adjudges a 

 person an habitual criminal when convicted of a third offense, 

 under which he may be held for life. This law is based upon 

 sound physiology and psychology. Such a permanent quarantine 

 should be applied to all tramps, cranks, and generally worthless 

 beings. Society must do this for protection, not punishment ; to 

 avoid their contamination ; and, above all, to prevent the propa- 

 gation of their kind. Advanced sociology will devote its princi- 

 pal energies to avoiding the production of the unfit, and then see 

 to it that they do not survive beyond one generation. Here lies 

 the only solution of this difficult problem first prevention, next 



permanent isolation. 



-* 



THE ANCIENT CIVILIZATIONS OF AMERICA. 



By Prof. JOHN S. NEWBERRY. 



WHEN the white man landed on these shores he found them 

 covered with a dense forest, the home of the bear, the elk, 

 the lynx, and the other wild animals indigenous to this country. 

 The only human inhabitants were the red Indians, who roved the 

 forest, "the children of the shade" the chase their occupation, 

 and their amusement war. From Maine to Florida the country 

 was overrun by various tribes of these untutored savages, and 

 for many years it was believed that the whole of North America 

 was what it was called the New World and that its animals and 

 savage men were part of the first wild stock with which it was 

 peopled. 



As the wave of civilization moved westward the forest was 

 mowed down before it, and step by step the native tribes with 

 many a hard-fought battle and bloody tragedy were driven 

 deeper into their forest recesses. 



Behind the advance guard of the whites the country was soon 



