New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-07
COLLEGE, BOYS LARKS.
Increase az Juvenile Misdem6GnOrs
Due to Them, Says Mrs. Spencer.

The exploiting Of college boys and their pra1zs
h the newspapers has made many boys think that
lsvlessaess Is manly said Mrs Anna Garli1
Spencer 20 the v-o1e-'s study class Of the Society
for Ethical Culture yesterday. in cooperating me
causes which make for The increase in juvenile
u-isdeuezuors IN this country The great pub
uciry given TO college boys The lengthy accounts OF
matches The pictures OF the football. heroes. the
Joking over their esclpaGes, have had an immediate
eject on the imagination OF the ordinary boy from
Maine California
II makes my blood boil continued Mrs Spencer
Indignantly. 80 see a. =roup e East SIDE boys con
seTrrE .a sl- ~eC-ru.stor- to- playing some ---ck
l- -r- ---a.. and when crowd ~ COLLEGE boys
i--s-- ---- --F nous. a- - clock In the morning
s..- l-e -.-r same --r- a-.e lt tre-t-1 a. b
...E -.--..- 3D.. .- -l. editorial columns cf The
ra-a-z rssr
.-rl- --.-...-. -e the college boy -o uLsde1ave
is Ire jas. remnant Of the class privilege in Amer
dean --. -lc-- are other countries which retain
the class privilege Of the military the militia
bu- know dt r--a -tar has hello over from the
past IN thls country except The college boys class
privilege L has IT'S root IN the old icea that the
university student forms class 81 hir1se.t and
than while be is forming Into man he ought 10 oe
sI1vye5 ro ar- as boy
AIRS. S7ercer's subject was ''Truants and What
Co 10 with Them Il vas the first = group Of
three lectures Oh delinquent children. which viii
De- followed tr three on defective children and four
5- dependent and neglected children, the whole
fo-mln= a course CT ten % child care and child
saving.
j. tle course q an address Of great earnestness
TIE lecturer said.
Juvenile delinquency has increased markedly in
Ills country within the last thirty years What
are some q the special causes?
In the United States We have unprecedented po-
ftical and domestic freedom. which affects adults.
5ut children especially. Il results II the develop
1eut OF the individual before the 6eveio prnent Of
cabit L exe-ts q pressure on the child 10 decide
before The capacity las been gained - decide Il
the whole. one Cf -he most oenehcent Of dis
-lplnes q people can undergo. but one Of the most
troublesome. It's general tendency in America Is
dangerous 10 children. il encourages viii individu-
sGtv. choice decision before habit has been
grounded iu-0 character.
The general difficulty We are la50r-ug under j.
how 70 apply democracy 10 the unCevei0ped
1uuau being This rs the problem OF the age We
have had a fragrant example OF the difficulty ot u
right here 30 NeE-ECrk In OCr recent election
Freedom. deuoc-acy-rnese are our national ces-
tiny. and only the coward, that nearly obsolete
creature the aristocra- and the fool can dream OF
going back u The old order. Freedom, democracy,
give Us our trouble with our children II We have
more trouble with our children tlau other nations
hsve with theirs. II IS because our democracy IS
t--rr=- advanced"
Another reason ci-ed as a cause az Juvenile de-
Gu1uercy Is The change in religious ideals This.
A-rs Spencer said. has been practically universal
Ia America Whereas ILty years ago religion eN-
s.-=5 control and obedience now we e1alt the
idea OF sympathy alL response 10 sympathy that
shall ba entirely voluntary. This works vel with
finer natures. L-t has gr-at difficulty In appealing
.U .ra~-er types
NE a-ov-th 81 cities t-1 5ar1ming Of childish en-
cry I'D city restraints he spread u learning
" r1rt Ll-rtSr --ll.lE development II character
we other reasons assigned
F-Ve-vrhil- thar ie Faulty IN American lie Is
CEere-r- -1SZ.- r N=vyN OK cry -al- AIRS. SpeL-
Ger tarl ID is intensified s-Iu more 10y The i'm
s.lLss tide ~ iu-U-Erat-cl- L is bad enough tor
rHl- and form rl-C- la----. LLT take the
enid % iTlul grant parents and bow much
harder i j.. The father and mother cannot speak
F,-e.e-. THE Clil learns 70 speak lt 81 Dg Ia SIX
months When any one calls ar -ll- house VINO is
lat must meet stranger. DO LrSt under
Stands the REGULATIONS of the new lite2 The child.
Fle grows eager become Auczl-aD r every
-Ef-E and all r1ar went win the Cld life and
formed the great moral safeguard ~ habit 10 his
r-4E zr-rs7-asSe7- the child becomes paramount
MS nav not mean much IN the slperfcialities
+ dress and tcol bur when me divergence be-
comes moral and The child continues 70 erect its
own VIII then comes q clash 40 wonder We md
she foreign born child SO l1 excess OF The native
C- I'd -rr r-saut srhool--1e has i'st ms bear
Ers Spencer scored the CITY magistrate Tor their
Irvlli-res- ur-uier parents ioT neglect 10 send
Tr0i- lcre1 r1 school
pa Is rrarrol-table.- she said. Il 60 not I'M
se~s-z0G it OF rre c-s parents brought before The
court f-r allowing rhelr - l6ren 10 ne fruarfs
o-lv t~o we're fined This last year none have heeo
punished. So much discretion 1s given tl- inaEl--
thar ere Law IS lu.l0ec- MS t@aieh.t
should t- looked --ro 7 IS an offence nor onny
against che child. but against American society.