Arizona republican., 1907-09-10


lpresence of the one he calls the wise
guy the man who knows all about
the street boy and the way to his heart.
the gamin is not abashed. though to be
sure his imoertinence is then a mark
of favor rather than derision. A little
story in point Is that told BIZ Mr..
Charles ID. Hilles. superintendent of
1.-THE New York Juvenile asylum. who
idevotes all his time and energy to saw
| ing street boys from shipwreck upon
the rocks of crime everywhere present
i'm the Stun life OF the greater cities.
Each boy sent to the Children's village
of the asylum is taken before Mr..
Hilles to be questioned as means of
learning his individual traits and as a
method of establishing amicable rela-
tions. This particular boy had come
into collision with the law upon num-
erous occasions but with the clever
ness OF his kind had long eluded at
tempts to bring him before the Child
ren's court When asked by Mr.. Hilles
with what offence he was charged he
replied:
Il was playip' a game OF checkers
wild de cop. and 1t was my turn to move
and / didn't move and so he jumped
me. seei" His address he said was %
Lemon street.
If not according to the ethics of good
behavior and manners. these answers
were at least friendly and only uncon-
sciously impudent from the specialists
point of view. In fact the boy special
list who sets himself the task of dealing
with delinquent children OF the city's
manufacture must realize first of all
that the gamin is in all ways abnormal
having lived an abnormal life. and that
he is to be judged and weighed by no
common standards.
Even with the most modern sort of
plant for making good citizens, such as
that of the Juvenile asylum-with its
widely spaced cottages built to accom-
modate no more than twenty boys
each. its hospital. farm. school, trade
teaching shops, merit system of mark
| ing which incites to personal endeavor
because ii provides personal rewards,
it's huge playground and its many
acres of woodland-the whole, 10 be ef-
fcctive, must be vitaliZed by the per
sonal touch" b. the knowledge of the
boy specialist. According to Mr.. Hilles
and experience will doubtless con-
vince each of US Of the correctness Of
his statement-no two boys are by any
chance exactly alike in mind or body.
Opportunity is given the boy specialist
by the cottage type of reformatory to
study each boy. so that each may be
treated as an individual.
I'VE regard each of our charges as
a separate problem" SAYS Mr.. Hilles.
''and from the very first use every en-
deavor TO merit not the boys fear,
which might easily be achieved through
strictly enforced arbitrary rules and
accompanying punishments meted out
by keepers, but his love and conf
dcnce."
Something is almost invariably ac-
complished during the first Interview
between the delinquent and the boy
specialist, though often not without
difficulty. A boy recently. admitted TO
the Children's village had not only
been deprived of the guidance of both
mother and father in his fieft with the
world. but had also suffered the loss
OF one leg in a ride stealing episode
upon a freight train. He had lived by
begging, and was so successful because
Of his affliction that he earned much
more than enough for his needs. The
surplus which he had accumulated had
drawn him into evil surroundings. His
home had been in a house of unsavory
reputation and his companions crimi-
nails of both sexes. Upon his arrival
az the Children's village he was called
into the superintendent office in no
very amiable frame of mind. To a
long list of persuasive questions he
answered only with surly monosylla-
bles until Mr.. Hilles had almost de-
SPARED ot making a friend OF him.
Have YOU any pets?" was asked
frall-.
Yes" the boy replied with his first
show OF interest, Il had dog and a
pigeon
Where are they now?" Mr. Hnles
asked.
Jaw, don't know" the lad said
rather huskily. "but'-and this was
said very fiercely-'Td paid my room
rent for week and they got a right to
keep 'em that long. But watts de
use?" he continued with a suspicious
culver about his lips, 81 won't never
see 'em again"
How would you like to have them
up here?' was the next question.
ahs SAb-f SOuI Aitt
surly reply: and then as an after,
thought and altogether incredulously.
do you really mean it?"
yes. ] mean it"
Say. Mister" the boy said with
tears in his eyes. IF you bring dem
tykes w here dere amt nothin' won't
do FOR you
"All right" said Mr.. Hilles, up they
come" And thereby was cemented
bond of friendship between the special
list who knew how and the boy who.
hitherto had felt that every mans hand
was against him. He is working now,
az his studies and is regulating his
conduct in such a manner as to win
the approval Of de head guy and to
ensure his getting the greatest good
from the new system.
There are two ways 10 deal with the
street Arab, the specialist has learned.
one good, one bad. Tho first or old
method is to break him as the cow
boy 'busts'' a broncho. The second
is patiently and painstakingly 20 train
him as thoroughbred is trained, sub
shutting love and individual treatment
for routine handling. But to do this
successfully you must be a boy spe-
cialist for. though sympathy and love-
are essential in the work. so is the,