As we continue to see it, then, the purpose of psychological work with offenders is nothing more or less than the understanding of the causes of misconduct. By no other methods will such causes be known, and those who fail to reckon with the fundamental psychical conditions and processes which underly delinquency will never get far in developing better methods of treatment. Psychology in this field is perfectly willing to be judged by results, and that is the best self-recommendation that it can offer. The application of well-rounded and safe psychological studies in court work (not the pseudo-psychology that our friends decry) offers to the law the important addition of a scientific method. It presumes to gather in all the available facts that bear on the conduct in question, to set down opinions of diagnosis and prognosis, and then to follow these up in connection with any treatment given to see how correct they may have been, and to offer the chance of such readjustment as may be necessary. There is a direct study, then, of predictability. Now this is exactly the method of every science that aims at self-improvement. Unfortunately, this scientific endeavor at self-improvement has heretofore not been the standpoint of the law. Nothing has been any more striking to us than our observations on this point. Now through the opening avenue of practical studies of mental life and conduct applied to offenders in connection with court proceedings, we see every reason to believe that the outlook may be much better for dealing with the whole problem of delinquency and crime. THE EASTERN PENITENTIARY OF PENNSYLVANIA [The following article from The Umpire, a paper printed at the Eastern Penitentiary, gives a graphic description, from a prisoner’s standpoint, of that century-old prison, where once the rule of perpetual solitary confinement was imposed. Today it is noteworthy for the liberality of its rules.] Sometime in the early “Forties,” Charles Dickens, the eminent author, visited this institution, and the result of it is found incorporated in his “American Notes” published in 1842. He strongly criticised the methods in force at that time and depicted conditions well calculated to arouse the indignation of every one with a spark of kindly feeling in their make-up. Many people believe these same conditions exist at present, for Dickens’ works are read quite as freely today as they have been at any time since they first left the press. Then again, many people confound this institution with “Moyamensing,” which is the county prison, and _somewhat_ different. Some of our contemporaries, and especially those in Western States, are evidently under the impression that the system in vogue fifty years ago is yet in force in this institution, and so far from giving any indication of being fully abreast of the times as they claim, one would suppose they must have enjoyed a period of oblivion, second only to that of dear old Rip Van Winkle.