Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-24
PROBATION CHILDREN
REFORMATION OF THE YOUTH
BECOMES A SCIENCE.
Views of One Who Has Had Expert
ence-System Developed in the
Juvenile Court

The reformation of juveniles is rapidly
becoming one of the important. II not the
most important, science of the times. Sue
cessful and interesting beyond measure IS
the probation system whereby children con-
NiCted of misdemeanor are placed on parole
and carefully watched over for SIX months.
1t is substitute for the Jail or the work
house and the results Of this form OF guard
tanship are most encouraging To thor
oughly appreciate the system one must
visit the Juvenile court and follow the pro-
ceedlngs from beginning to end. Kindness
and wisdom temper the strong arm Of the
Jaw, and Cae ,-ouths of tender years are on
couraged to take every advantage OF this
merclful probation period wherein boys ara
girls are apparently allowed TO 40 free into
:he community and begin clean page In
their careers.
what is a probation boy" the writer
overheard a lady ask a policeman in the
Police Court the other day. "A probation
Toy, ma am, is boy that has made mis-
take The judge lets him 20 free under the
supervision If the authorit.r Ger six
months to give him chance to prove 10
his honor that he did ily make mis-
take, and is not bent on being wicked"
The policeman was right. The probation
boy, as rule, is a boy who has made
mistake which VIII not necessarily have a
fatal influence on his career. There are
about leo probation boys in Washington to-
day. Some OF them drifted early into mis-
chief. They are the offspring of the human
wreckage which floats from some Of or
courts and alleys. These children run the
streets like community cats not few
being wrecked morally and physically. but
a large majority of them are bright and
ambitious These are really good 1T heat
and VIII yet make good citizens.
Some Leading Spirits.
The writer has the privilege of knowing
nf
chief in Washington. and among them are
some interesting children. l recall one boy
who was arrested for throwing an overripe
tomato at his teacher. He was promptly
put on probat and his daily routine at
home since his arrest has been caring for
the baby in the morning, selling papers IN
the afternoon and attending night school
in the evening. This boys mother had
married three umes. and Tom said in CON
fidence one day that his favorite father
died years ago.
"One of the worst probati ton boys I have
ever known, said member of a local So
ciety, lis one who recently rea Ched his
seventeenth year. He was arrested several
times for robbing hen roosts One evening
L had occasion to visit his home | found
his mother alone with the children. She
said her husband had gone To the store
with Johnny. / did not appear 10 he very
welcome visitor. but / fingered. passing
the time of the day and admiring the array
of small children at my feet Soon | heard
voices and approaching footsteps. The
woman looked somewhat worried Soon
the door opened and her husband appeared.
followed by Johnny. On seeing me Johnny
stayed behind the open door for a few min
utes, and above the converse ton | heard
sounds like a rapid buttoning and unbut-
toning. Then Johnny appeared, looking
very solemn and very innocent bur. /
thought, very much fatter than | had ever
seen him before. and / detected a chickens
head peeping out through a small hole In
his trousers leg. ! pretended not TO see it,
and to prevent further emba IRA sSment babe
the family good night. IL is needless TO say
the next time | Johnny he was digging
potatoes at the District farm.
Wanted to Join Tammany.
Another boy l have in mind was arrested
for snatching a watch from a gentleman
on Capitol Hill. l asked him why he COM
mtted this crime. He said he wanted to
raise enough money TO take him to New
York so he could join the Tammany Club,
that he might be able to educate his sisters
Probation boys, like all the rest are
very uncertain quantities. You never know
just how TO take them. They are like their
clothes-need patching at the most unex-
pected times and in the most unexpected
places. Juvenile crime is steadily decreas-
ing, but the boys of the capital are begin
ming to realize that IL is bfifar "A KEN "A