Hon. G. W. Murry, Judge Juvenile Court, Springfield, Ill. Judge G. W. Murray, of the Springfield, Ill., Juvenile Court, recently spoke of the work, before over a hundred children at one of the leading 'churches of that city. Judge Murray spoke much of the experiences of the local juvenile court during the past nine years. He told of the objects of such a court and of the results attained. The prime object of such a court, the speaker stated, is to benefit the children who are brought under its immediate supervision and to assist them in rectifying mistakes which they have made. It is the intention of such a court to correct errors in moral child life and to help those who have erred to become better. Not all those who are immediately affected by such a court realize its importance or even its intentions, but even these are benefited though it be against their own designs. Talk Was Illustrated. Mr. Murray spoke of the relation of the court to the parents of the children. The court was spoken of as a barrier against immoral influences and as a stopping place in the road to ruin where one might hesitate and reconsider. A number of cases, some of them quite severe and others correspondingly small, were cited as illustrations of the talk. The benefits of a juvenile court were clearly enumerated. Not only the children who have been improperly reared or who are bereft of all rearing whatsoever, are benefited, but the children of better parents, the parents themselves and society in general. Mr. Murray used, to illustrate his talk, a large picture, a fac simile of the one exhibited at the state fair last year, which depicts a young man leaving the home of his childhood to carve out a career and so a destiny. The various stopping places are graphically pictured and the paths leading to success, failure, attainment and ruin deviate in a manner which figuratively corresponds with real life. The saloon is cited as an enticing allurement to the young man who is endeavoring or should be endeavoring, to do what is best for himself and those interested in his welfare. The picture was used constantly during the address that the children might fully understand what was said. CHILDREN'S COURTS AND WARSHIP COUNCILS. This important work is a general treatise on children's courts, the probation system and the socalled continental wardship councils; it describes, in detail, the legislation and procedure with regard to delinquent and dependent children in the United States and Great Britain, the German Empire, France and Belgium. Excellent brief summaries of the special legislation and specialized procedure in the cases of children are given for all the European countries in which the movement has led to changes in the judicial treatment of children. An excellent bibliography of nearly three pages concludes this valuable book of 116 pages. The book is on sale at 2.50 fr. (49 cents, postage included) and may be obtained from the author or through the New York Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children, 297 Fourth Avenue, New York City. FIRST SESSION OF CANADIAN JUVENILE COURT. Unostentatious Inauguration of New Law and New Tribunal, Only One in Canada. In the dining room of a dwelling at 226 Simcoe street the first juvenile court in the Dominion of Canada was held yesterday afternoon, January 22, '09, with T. Mayne Daly presiding as judge. It was the humble beginning of what, according to the general belief, is destined to be a widespread Dominion movement, and four little girls who had run away from home, all of them under sixteen years of age, were the first to be tried under the new Canadian juvenile delinquent law. Besides Judge Daly there were present Inspector Newton, of the police department; F. J. Billiarde, superintendent of neglected children; Jacob Kwiatowsky, who was present to interpret the language of the children; Staff Captain McAmmond, of the Salvation Army, who is superintendent of the home, and his wife, who is the matron. According to a former report the four little girls who were taken into custody stated that they had come to Winnipeg from Brandon. It was found that this was an error, and that they had run away from their home in this city. All four children were given a suspended sentence, and handed over to the care of Mr. Billiarde. Their parents have been noticed, and they will be held at the detention home until their final disposition is decided. Mr. Daly, who is the first judge of a juvenile court in Canada, is vested with much higher powers in this office than in that of magistrate, which he holds, and he decides the disposition of the children who come before him absolutely. There is no set day or time arranged as yet for the holding of this court, and for the present it will be held whenever occasion demands. To accomplish the reformation of a child, it is necessary to appeal to what there is good in it, and almost every one has something of this. It might, in the language of Lincoln, when speaking to a nation, be called an "appeal to the better angels of our nature." Every one should know and be made to feel how the difference between a good and a bad man, is the power to become strong in one's own character to successfully resist evil. And the evil once resisted it becomes easier to resist when the temptation comes a second time. PROVINCE OF MANITOBA. Juvenile Court Annual Report. Continued from page 7. question seems to have been: How much of a man is this child? No enquiry was made as to the cause which led the child to break the law; the whole matter resolved itself into a question of punishment and the child was dealt with, The result with a view to repressing or reforming him. was deplorable, the child dealt with after this fashion in most cases becoming a confirmed criminal, a constant source of expense and worry to the community, a useless, unproductive and expensive burden. IN JUVENILE COURTS. But with the coming of the juvenile court a transformation has taken place; the child, when arraigned for a misdemeanor, is dealt with in his own special court, which is generally held in some place removed from the environment of the ordinary court room, where there is no danger of his coming into contact with habitual criminals or the usual surroundings of the ordinary criminal courts. Before his trial takes place the cause of his downfall is, if at all possible, ascertained. His home and parents are visited, The character of the surroundings and home life noted, the parents is fully enquired into and the manner in which School they have cared for their children ascertained. teachers are visited, playmates enquired about. The reputation of the family in their own neighborhood-in fact, a complete an exhaustive enquiry into the boy's whole enIt will be seen that vironment is made before his trial. the judge, in trying the case under the above conditions, will have before him an epitome of the boy's whole history to aid him in determining the true cause of the child's transgression, and to intelligently outline a remedy. In short, the judge of the juvenile court will be in position to act towards the child as would a wise and kindly father dealing with a wayward child. FORMATION OF CHARACTER. Formation, not reformation, is the corner stone of the whole system. To take the human being in the formative stage of life and, by wise foresight and capable supervision, mould him into a self-respecting, law-abiding citizen-a friend, not an enemy, of law and order. That in brief is the object of the juvenile court. The child brought before these courts is in no way looked upon or treated as criminal, but rather as one who, owing to the unfortunate character of his environment and lack of good example and advice needs the protecting arm of the law paternally used to uplift and set him on the right path. a This system has been in operation long enough now to have passed the experimental stage, as the appended figures will show, and I would ask all who take an interest in this question to study the figures attentively, as they show in a very striking manner the good results following the inauguration of these juvenile courts: It has been established in the last five years that more than half of those placed in the care of probation officers do not need to be again brought into court. In Indianapolis the number of those charged a second time is less than 10 per cent. In Denver, out of 554 children placed on probation in two years, 70 were returned to the court as "beyond control." Of 715 brougt into the court it was found necessary to commit but 10 per cent to an institution. Before the establishment of the children's court at least 75 per cent. of those tried were committed to institutions. GOVERNMENT DETENTION HOME FOR JUVENILES ESTABLISHED. In order to comply with the provisions of the Juvenile Bill a Detention Home for juvenile delinquents and truants was opened last October. Staff Captain McAmmond and Mrs. McAmmond of the Salvation Army, who were brought from Montreal specially for this purpose, are in charge of the home and have everything fixed up as homelike as possible. When the Juvenile Bill becomes law all boys and girls, sixteen years of age and under, who are arrested, will be detained and tried in this building by the Juvenile Court Judge; thus completely shielding them from contact with criminals. A child who is a habitually truant from school or habit ually wanders about the streets or public places during school hours, without any lawful occupation or employment, is liable to be arrested and brought before the Juvenile Court as a neglected child. Warning will be given the parents and if the child still keeps away from school, he will be confined for a period in the home, where he will be made to attend class and do school work. The Court will have the power to commit a child to a term in the Home and to compel the parents to pay for its maintenance. The Home has been simply but comfortably furnished, the rooms are bright and airy, and the whole environment approaches, as nearly as possible, to that of the ordinary home life of a respectable family. Accommodation has been provided for 14 children; of course only the most stubborn cases will be dealt with at the Home. The keynote of the Juvenile Court work will be to improve the child's home influence to such an extent that the necessity for removal to an institution will be unnecessary. In fact, as far as possible, the child will be dealt with without bringing him before the court at all, and not until strict supervision has failed to effect a reformation. In this connection it is noteworthy of observation to mark the larger number of cases dealt with during the past year and described as "dealt with out of court." It is also very satisfactory to record that out of the total number of boys released on suspended sentence only two were re-arrested. I feel that I cannot close this report without referring to the invaluable co-operation and advice rendered by Hon. C. H. Campbell and Hon. T. M. Daly, who have always been ready to place their time and experience at my disposal. A Matter of Growth. "Father, Sam didn't give the horses half enough bedding last night and Prince looked fierce this morning!" Fred Caldwell stopped to put his head in at the door of his father's room, where he sat in an easy-chair, nursing an attack of rheumatism. "I told him to give them plenty of clean straw every night when he first came. It is a pity a boy can't do as he is told a part of the time without being watched," Mr. Caldwell said testily. "That's what I think. He won't be worth his salt if he can't be trusted to do a little thing like that when he is left in charge of the barn. You ought to see the way he litters hay, too; looks as if there had been a young cyclone fooling around.' "Wasting it, is he?" Mr. Caldwell asked. "N-o-I don't know as he is wasting it; I guess he picks up the most of it, but he might be more careful. Of course it doesn't do for me to say anything. He knows I ain't the boss. If I was I'd see that he did things different. But that's all you can expect of a boy." Mr. Caldwell smiled in spite of the twinges in his aching knee. Fred was growing up fast. It had not been so very long since he had done a good many of the barn chores himself and needed about as much watching as the average boy. Four months at the Pennington Highschool seemed to have made a man of him, in his own estimation at least. "I don't know. I guess you and Sam are about the same age, aren't you?" he asked. "I should say not! I'm a year older than Sam!" Fred replied serenely. "Why, I thought you were in the same classes," Mr. Caldwell said. "Oh, well-here you know. We were both eighth grad ers. Of course Sam has had to drop behind now. He can't afford to go away to school." "Seems to me I have heard something about his studying at home, haven't I?" Mr. Caldwell remarked. "Oh, that is all nonsense! He can't do anything studying alone. Besides, he has his living to earn." Fred threw up his head with an impatient gesture as he hurried away to get ready for school. Of course Sam had dropped out of the running. He would chore around among the farmers for a few years probably, and maybe get a farm of his own after a while and settle down; but he would never have any more education. The fact that they had been pretty good friends in their schoolboy days would not count any longer. So Fred thought as he swung alone over the road to the village in what he believed to be a proper athletic stride. Mr. Caldwell looked after him thoughtfully. Fred was certainly growing in stature. Whether his mental growth was keeping step was a matter of doubt. He believed, however, that home was the best place for a boy to grow in as long as he could stay there, and as the daily train to and from Pennington made it possible for Fred to attend the high-school and still board at home, he had insisted on his doing so, much to Fred's regret, who thought he was old enough to be trusted away from home. He was wise enough, however, to yield the point goodhumoredly, as his father had not required him to assist in the daily "chores," but allowed him to give all of his time to his studies, and to the events connected with school life until he, Mr. Caldwell, had succumbed to an attack of rheumatism. Then his father had hired Sam Davis, a neighbor boy and a former schoolmate to come and chore about the house and barn until he should be well enough to attend to affairs himself. Mr. Caldwell had always thought Sam Davis to be a trustworthy sort of a boy, but if he was not, why, they would have to let him go and get along without him or hire somebody else, which was not an easy matter. A boy could not expect to hold a job if he did not give a fair equivalent in conscientious labor for the wages he received. It was a hard lesson to learn, but a boy could not learn it too early. Boys nowadays seem to think their services something to be regarded with gratitude. Rheumatism is not conductive to patience, and when Fred came in a couple of days later with a long list of grievances, not least of which was the fact that Trixie had got loose in the barn, Mr. Caldwell sent for Sam peremptorily. "You needn't come back in the morning," he said curtly, handing Sam his week's wages. Sam did not say anything. Mr. Caldwell had not made any specific charges, so he could not very well defend himself against them, but he looked at Fred keenly as he went out. "You'll have to get along alone the rest of the week. I hope I'll be able to get out and see to things myself by that time. I'll get neighbor Smith to come over and feed things at noon till then," Mr. Caldwell said, turning to Fred. "But, father-" Fred began, in an expostulating tone of voice. "No 'buts' about it. It may not be very pleasant, but you'll have to do it." Mr. Caldwell moved his aching limb into a more comfortable position and picked up the paper he had been read"ing, as if to indicate that the matter was ended. As lessons seemed to be in order, it might be as well for Fred to learn his share, he reflected. There was no use in saying anything further, Fred knew by experience. The prospect of a week with the whole responsibility of the barn on his hands was anything but pleasant, and he confronted it with dismay. The January exams were coming on, too, and he needed all the time to study up; and there was the debate for next week to read up for. He had meant to get in a couple of hours' good work on his arithmetic tonight. Maybe Sam would not go until he had finished up for the night, he thought hopefully, as he went back to the barn. But Sam was not there. He had taken his dismissal promptly. The horses were still to be fed and bedded down and the young cattle to be taken care of. Sam had already done the milking, but tomorrow morning! Fred gave an involuntary shiver as he thought of getting up at half-past four and going out to the frosty barn to begin his morning's work. It was after eight before everything was done for the night, and he went in and took up his books in a very unsatisfactory frame of mind. The barn pump was frozen up next morning because he had forgotten to let the water out of the pipe, and it necessitated several trips to the house for hot water to thaw it before he could water the stock. Then he had been in too great a hurry the night before to cut cornstalks for the cows, and this took an extra amount of time. When at last he had finished he had only to eat a hasty breakfast and run for the train. He felt ill-used and indignant. Father ought not to expect him to do the chores alone. It was too much to ex pect af anybody going to school. The station was situated on the outskirts of the little village only three-quarters of a mile distant, and he reached it panting and breathless just as the train was ready to pull out. Sam Davis was on the platform with a basket of freshly-popped corn which he was offering for sale among the passengers, but everybody seemed to be in a hurry and no one had time to buy. Fred's face flushed angrily, and he swung himself up the step and entered the car without speaking. Of course Sam needed work, but that was no excuse for his peddling popcorn on the streets like a street huckster. There were other things a self-respecting boy could get to do. Sam noticed Fred's manner and resented it at once. "Feels above a boy that peddles popcorn probably! Funny kind of pride that turns its nose up at an honest way of earning a living and ain't above telling a lie," he thought indignantly. Fred got up a little earlier next morning and managed to get through in time for breakfast. "Seems to me you don't use any more bedding than Sam did. I see Prince needs a good half-hour of currying and brushing to make him presentable," Mr. Caldwell remarked from his seat by the window, where he had been watching the horses as Fred led them out to drink. "Well, he won't get it then. He paws every straw away and lies on the bare boards. If he doesn't know any more than that it ain't my fault," Fred replied crossly. "Maybe that is what Sam thought," his father remarked dryly. Fred did not reply and ate his breakfast in silence. His lesson was not at all to his liking evidently. The next day was Friday and the Junior class had a meeting at which all members were expected to be present, and Fred did not get home until the eight o-clock train came in. He had not meant to stay, but the pressure brought to bear on him had overcome his good resolutions, and he was the last one to leave the hall. He ran every step of the way from the station and reached home panting and breathless, to find his father angry and impatient at his delay. He did not wait for supper, but went to the barn at once. He found the barn door open and Trixie's stall empty. He also found where she had helped herself to a measure of carrots which had been meant for all three horses; also a bag containing some cornmeal which he had carelessly left on the barn floor was nearly empty. She had eaten what she wanted and spilled the rest. He went back and fed the animals and milked the cows, but he did not mention the fact that Trixie was missing. There was no use in worrying father until he knew there was something to worry over, he thought, as he went out into the road. He followed her readily for a short distance, but presently the track became obliterated by more recent travel, and he lost it altogether; but he kept on hurriedly. There was no knowing where he would find her. She was just a rattle-brained colt with no sense of restraint, and she was enjoying her liberty with no thought of home. He took the road to the village and went up and down the streets miserably, looking in all the empty sheds and asking everyone whom he met if they had seen a dapple gray colt running around loose; but no one had seen her. It was about half-past nine when he overtook Sam Davis going home from Joel Burley's farm with a bag of popcorn over his shoulder. He had found it necessary to replenish his stock. "Hello, Fred! Lost a colt?" he asked genially. "Yes; do you know where she is?" Fred asked. "Sure! She is in our barn. I was going to fetch her home as soon as I got back with this corn. I had to get it to-night before Joel Benson overbid me and took it all. I found her in our sheep-shed just before starting and caught her as easy as anything. How did she get away?" 'I don't know, I'm sure. I found the door open when I got home. She must have got loose some day." "Tied another granny knot this morning when you let her out to water, didn't you?" Sam said meaningly. Fred colored up. "You don't mean that was now she got loose before?" "Yes I do." "But you tied her when she got away the first time." "No, I didn't. You let Trixie out and I took Prince. You tied a granny knot on Prince once, too, but he wasn't smart enough to untie it. It wouldn't hold Trixie, though, a minute longer than she wanted it to." -- "I'd forgotten about leading Trixie out when I told father honest I had, Sam. I'll tell him the truth about it when I get home, and you can have your place back in the morning if you want it," Fred said. "But I don't want it. I'm making twice as much selling popcorn, and I mean to keep at it the rest of the winter. I've bargained for all the popcorn that Joel Burley had to spare, and I've got a new-fangled corn popper coming next week and a peanut-roaster. Oh, I'm a man of business now! Maybee I'll make enough to go to Pennington next year, too," he added, laughingly, with a searching look into Fred's face. "Good for you! I'll put you wise to whatever is worth while," Fred said cordially, as he let Trixie out of the barn, none the worse for her outing. "Maybe we won't exactly agree on what is worth while," Sam remarked. "I think you didn't exactly approve of my new business venture the other morning," he added. "Oh, I'm a cad all right, but don't think for a minute I don't know it. There's that in my favor anyway," said Fred. "That's a lot, but it wouldn't do for anybody else to say that before me, old chap. We've rode on the same bobsled too many times for that," Sam remarked. Fred told the whole story to his father next morning with no reserves and no extenuating remarks. Mr. Caldwell heard him with secret satisfaction. "You have grown considerably since last Tuesday morning, Fred," he remarked. "I think you will measure several inches taller-in real manliness," he added. "Perhaps your understanding of the English language has broadened also," he continued. "I think you understand better the meaning of several words-responsibility and forbearance and veracity. Maybe friendship has a different meaning for you also, and real worth." Mr Caldwell looked at Fred meaningly. "I think they have father," he said.-The Boy's World. |