166 THE MENDEL JOURNAL 



of the fit. Fifty years ago it did its work effectually, 

 and the thief when caught was hanged. But now, 

 as I have already pointed out, under the baneful 

 influence of a sentiment gone mad, the work of the 

 police is being progressively nullified and undone. 

 The police may catch the thief, the magistrate may 

 agree that a drastic punishment is required, but 

 outside sentiment foolishly sets the criminal at 

 large.* So far has this pernicious sentiment gone, 

 that after a judge and jury have condemned to death 

 a cowardly murderer, who has walked into an old 

 and defenceless man's office, and shot him dead, 

 there can be found a Home Secretary who will yield 

 up justice to the clamours of servant girls and of 

 small subm-ban tradesmen ! Most assuredly I am 

 for the police, as an organisation of the j&t, which, 

 when efficiently and justly worked, will remind the 

 " unfit " of their place in the scheme of things. 



Miss Wodehouse, not content with fancifully dis- 

 torting the logical outcome of my position, goes even 

 further, and commenting upon my plea that it is best 

 for the congenitally defective to accept their destiny, 

 as much greater citizens have done, proceeds to assure 

 us " That acceptance of destiny is found purest 



* See the comments of Mr. Lane, K.C., magistrate at the West London 

 Police Court, in a case of embezzlement, where he remarked that he held 

 the view that such offences should be rather severely punished, but in 

 deference to public sentiment ended by merely binding the defendant to 

 come up for judgement if called upon. Or, where, as at the Wimbledon 

 Bench of Justices, hooligans caught red-handed in the act of thieving are 

 set free merely vfith a paternal warning not to do it again. A warning 

 which is so effectual that two out of the three thus dismissed are charged 

 a few weeks later by the police for a similar offence. In the meantime, it 

 may be left to the imagination as to the amount of annoyance and loss 

 which the thieves had caused to the honest citizens. 



