| Show A prevalent fault when I 1 larn ey cy the departmental forger was bro brought right up for sentence having pleaded guilty to the charge against him biz I 1 his counsel sought to move C alie ill C court to t leniency by pleading that the prisoner had a morbid disposition to live beyond ills his means the judge lid did not apparently consider this in ill mitigation ot of the crime for lie sentenced harvey to twelve years nt at hard libor labor in the penitentiary the judge was right A morbid disposition to live beyond ones means might be accepted in explanation of perhaps half the crimes committed in civilized communities but it is to be hoped that this explanation will never bo be regarded as a palliative lia tive no doubt a morbid disposition to live beyond ones means is distinctively a vice of civilization analyzed it is seen to lie ile merely one form of selfishness and artan a particularly bad form also those who seek to lo live beyond their means are of necessity not honest to begin with they desire to humbug the world into giving them credit tor for more than belon belongs to them in order to maintain this dece deceptive tivo appearance they must resort to all manner of tricks and subterfuges and petty frauds and disguises and af course the education they obtain in practicing their im postures its fits them for further and more serious senous dishonesty new york tribune |
