The evening world., 1888-05-14

~ tht hilihih IVY uhu tiio ilN
agent-are always at war. The schoolroom
loses its magnetic influence when the gentle
breezes of the springtime blow. The dull
books have lost their attraction. Studying is
not n popular diversion and the sugar. coated
promises to the rising generation that they
will sometime be Presidents, plumbers, or
statesmen, do not go down.
This unfortunate condition of affairs began
in earnest when the circus. with its flaming
posters. struck town, and now %truancy is
fairly booming.
Without going into ancient history, it is
well to state that there are twelve truancy
agents in this city. Their names are: James
Rogers, A. G. Martinez. Theodore Reeves.
William Fleming, NJ. Hoffman Philip, Will
lam M. Kitchell, John s.. Ketcham, John w.
Curtin, Vincent Cristelli, John F. Walsh.
Frank H. Page and James F. Reidy. Each
Of these gentlemen has a %truancy district to
look after. Their duties are to catch the tru-
ant youngsters, in the streets or at their
homes, reprimand them and lug them back
to school. In extreme cases they may have
the unruly children committed to the juve-
nile asylum.
They have the authority to stop any child
between the ages of eight and twelve years
in the street during school hours and find
out why the child is not at school.
Take the tour of a truency agent on q busy
day and see what a circus he has.
He starts out about 8 O'Clock in the morn
ing. Tn Principal of some school in his
district has given him the names of several
children who have absented themselves with
out excuse and the agent proposes to investi-
gate. On his way to one of the houses he
meets n small hoy. The small boy is in COM
pany with another aud is engaged in the per-
nicious practice of pitching pennies. The
agent says:
Little boy. what's your name 2"
"TOmlny Jones, sir"
How is it that you are not ut SCHOOL,"
Il am doing errands for mother"
- is that soE"
Yes. sir: honestly"
well, We will 60 right home to your
mother and find out about it,"
This paralyzes the small boy for an in
slant, but ne RECEIVERS and says Mother is
not home she is visiting my aunt in Hobo
ken. sister has gone to lonkers, father is at
work, and there is no one at home"
We'll, you just come along with me and
we will see."
This. of course, also staggers the small boy,
but. as the truant agent has him by the arm,
he is forced homeward. He Is thoughtful
pensive, as it were. He must determine at
once on some course OF action or there Will
be lively times in the Jones household.
The house is reached. Mrs. Jones is seen.
Madam" says the truant agent, II
found your son in the street tossing pennies
when he ought to have been in school. Did
you tell him to stay away from school ?"
- did not. sir. Been playing hockey. has
he Well, I'll attend to him " IAN unearthly
yell from Tommy " and I'll see that he is IN
school tomorrow"
Agent withdraws.
Whence came those shrieks 80 loud and
shrill ?
From the Jones abode. Tommy is ex-
tremely busy, and his mother canno be said
to be wholly idle. There are sounds of re-
sounding thwacks. accompanied by falsetto
yells. These are dreadful moments to
Tommy. The agents face, however, lights
up with q CHASTITY smile, for his awful work
is accomplished. Thomas will be at school
tomorrow,