I appeal to lawyers, judges, statesmen, scientists, philosophers, and the police and municipal authorities throughout the United States and Europe to corroborate my statement. The sooner this is generally realized, the better for humanity. What I have to suggest, instead of the present policy, is reserved for consideration in another place. I may say here, however, that for the law to punish what it cannot thereby cure is absurd--absurd as is every attempt to accomplish the impossible. Systematic education is the only hope; incessant training the only remedy for appetites and propensities; either for their correction, restraint, or subversion. If it had been revealed to man that gambling is a sin, even that would not vitiate our reasoning in this chapter. God, or absolute wisdom, should be able to reconcile the existence of an evil with His own Sovereignty. However, this chapter is not concerned with the realities of religion, or the true principles of philosophy. As human conceptions, they have been noted as in accord with the teachings of science; to show that the human intellect responds intuitively to what are subsequently known as the laws of nature. Legislative Exorcism; or, The Belief in Word-Magic. [Illustration] CHAPTER IV. Legislative Exorcism; or, The Belief in Word-Magic. For ages, mankind were believers in magic. One of the phases was Exorcism, or a pretended exercise of supernatural power, through certain words of magic import. “Healing words,” says Van Helmont, “were used against the devil and all diseases.” And it is asserted by the Zendavesta that “many cures are performed by words.” That the magic power of words was a belief of the Greeks and Romans, is evident from their literature. Thus it is said of Plotin, that while in Sicily he cured Porphyrius of a fever, “by wonder-working words.” We are told how Orpheus’ song calmed the storm, and how Ulysses “stopped the bleeding of wounds by the use of certain words.” They also tell us, that with words, Cato cured sprains; Marcus Varrus removed tumors; and Servilius Novianno restored sight to the eyes. It is gravely stated by Pliny that Cato did not alone use the words, “motas, daries, dardaries, astaries,” but likewise a green branch, four or five feet long, which he split in two, and caused to be held over the injured limb. A similar power was ascribed to the philosopher, Pythagoras. And if “ye olden chronicle” is to be credited, the curses of Peter of Amiens and Bernard of Clairvaux, “produced fearful spasms and sufferings, whilst their blessings restored speech to the dumb and health to the sick.”