New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-14
JUVENILE OFFENDERS.
Hopeful altitude of Society To7card
Them Described bg Mrs. Spencer.

TO ne there are few things more hopeful in
rhe signs Of the times today said Mrs Anna
Ga-Iin Spencer yesterday morning in the second
lecture c. her course OF modern philanthropy be
FORE the Wor-au's Conference q the Society for
Ethical Culture. than The attitude OF the pub
1o-sociery al large-toward the juvenile offender
Various antisepcics' So-e one has called
rher-l o. Juvenile crime such Increase o. ecu-
cauonal and -ecreatio1al opportunities. and the
thousand and one auelio-atirg and uplifting agen-
cles Al sork IL municipal life al now work from
single premise This is that = e child is given
sai- chance progress and Improvement are always
possible.
Practically al peno-ogls-s now agree in dis
-ot--ars-- tu-prsSor-neut for z first offence when
confinement is resorte6 20 the criminal is treated
as one IL mental OF moral III health Statistics
show that all but scant 10 per cent q juvenile
offenders are qalpably abnormal In some respect
Tnis abnorualIty IS not always congeritaL II
vs-v many cases lack o. nuJrirelt OF injurious
foods have Impoverished the brains supply q
blood that slight forms q mental Liberation
have set IN and the mind Is unable 70 threw OF
unhealthy Influences as IL would under normal
conditions.
The latest census returns available give rs the
following key 70 uo6e-r crimes: Only Der cent
y these are Eove-ume-t2l-aEat-st the state: Ii
lie ? per cent against society. doing vio
lence 10 order and the sztery and welfare OF the
public IN general 2 per cent par-ake Of the nat
ure q personal violence while more than IS per
ce-t-slunosr haE q al the crimes committed in
rights q possession NOT only do new occasions
teach new duties but less CO conditions
give rise &c crimes. VIA the growing con-
plexicy OF the social organism the varieties Of
crime. = 7 may Use the phrase, are rapidly in
c-eas5-g. But everywhere The great goo want IS
claiming his slaves And not chiefly the want thar
is -epreserte5 by starvation and restitution. but
artificial a2petites tor The possession OF things;
the 5Il OF lace SO coveted by the shop girl the
cash which represents luxurious living 10 The trust
&c employee, The lust OF the eyes and the pride o.
ne 20 use TIE old Books phraslng which under
ore r---se Or another lure SO many OF from the
citadel e up-lghtness and individual balance
Ms Spencer couched On the method OF the pain
less extinction CT hsbruGl criminals, 80 earnestly
advocated by some soci7logts-s. bit said she per
iu5r-se This course The continued confinement OF
s-ot persons Mrs Spencer said was another mat
~ cc-1r=u-ert were such a. they are TO-DAY. II
sid ne s--sker. confinement should COt be in the
sgErsgate 1-- 81 individual homes and uaGer up
''I5a Aloa I.-e-e is q good deal said about the
q he -5c-- Continued Ms Spencer. but society
Or who.= Us taking a much breeder We" Of -
q ~ -l-- - ---- +----a--rae conc - drunken
ps-e-tzge. arc. roughly estimated. something Ike
ac -5z-e lce euvironnent about them y their cary
childhood. tUt have been largely lett 10 instll1-
l,-s Spencer urged he- hearers to SPEND . morn
.-g -- me Nev-york Cfilcren's Court Fl+tee 5n
~-i=s El-l r-icsgo chroooloEica-iy u ne leao.
now have such courts sfe sac -'l Sc So l-5-
r~- 7ree- ~-rr+rT- u L-s ptODall1H
0-gce- -ar.lzs both men and women
--- z--..rF = -..lr- standard. md q high one,
-..--..sFrr .r~a-.s ~
F--c--E Too often such helpers are selected from
--aa-+-- se-.-a +rev car render 81 return for the
none extended for them whereas. those en-
EaL.. r sLD--C pe re az 49,
s-a-----s NJ manhood and won aI1ool lesolet5
fou- living Inspirations re .1sL - -
v-g.----- san --- name T. bit IL Is not 50 many
r- s~1~ where stand DoW-Nas 20 49, ~
quite Ere opposite way ar1 Iss--H ss-aa -
-A,-.-r ~ he poo-. hungry soUled little children
irrr--s-c5 o her care