Show leisure a microbe bed from which come naturally disgraceful conditions by GEORGE W ALGER in atlantic monthly why is it that crime in america is wholly out of proportion to crime in other civilized countries why do we have a record which cannot be equaled even in the most war wrecked country of europe those who attribute all these blots on our national escutcheon to defects in our criminal in al law and our courts and the shortcomings of our police are shortsighted indeed why aro are we the greatest consumers of habit forming drugs why are arc our insanity records appalling and getting worse of course we cannot ascribe all these disgraceful conditions to any single cause but ono one I 1 cause that is among the most fundamental we have sear rely considered at all we have never regarded leisure as the microbe bed from which these diseases come naturally and almost inevitably As industry grows less interesting to its ita participants and cret continuously les less joy in work we have as a result a not inconsiderable class of our young people seeking a more exciting and hazardous substitute for a life of such toil A dull background of uninteresting work moreover produces or tends to produce in the leisure of those who work reactions to make a balance by excitement thrill danger dope and lawlessness |