New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-05-09

By Thomas Travis with an introfncfior by.
CroVeU & Co ' =
The last generation saw the beginnings Of a
great awakening on the subject of children. For
the first time in history, teachers. judges and
the more enlightened parents became conscious
OF the radical differences between adults and
114e immature Children were seen no longer as
small. i'll bound editions of grown-ups but
rather as a definite and different species. cana
bic Of slow transformation into men and women.
In the light Of this startling discovery schools
began TO be reorganized. new pedagogical meth
DDS were devised, the legal status Of children
was changed and parental discipline was tenn
pered with intelligence But. although good be
ginnings have been made in these readjust-
ments, what is already accomplished seems pitt
fully small alongside the remainder of the task.
This contract is probably most sharply accentu-
ated in the present state Of elementary and high
school education; but ii IS not much less con-
spicuous in the handling OF bad" boys and
girls Here, more than anywhere else, adults
reveal their failure 10 read Alright the ethical
implications Of the admitted mental and physi-
cal differences between themselves and chill
dren. Here find persisting most tenaciously
the ancient unthinking tendency TO judge per-
sons by the social significance Os their acts with
out first measuring the morality OF the deeds
and temperament. The result Of this careless
ness is g sweeping verdict against all truants
hoodlums and juvenile criminals. all of whom
are popularity branded either as incorrigibIes or
else as degenerates. and consigned TO prisons or
asylums Whittier this policy carries US may
De read all too plainly in the records of our
criminal courts Why and how We must cast
il aside is well told in Mr. Traviss volume
He has done something worth while in bring
ing together for the first time the discoveries
Of many men concerning problems Of Juvenile
delinquency and its remedies. Having gone to the
bottom Of matters personally. the author writes,
not as q mere cataIoguer, but with the skill of
selection and abbreviation that comes only with
thorough understanding His eight main theses
are fundamental and sane They are: % A
study of the delinquent with respect TO his
physical. mental and ethical conditions shows
that at least 80 per cent and probably IS per
cent, Of first court offenders are normal % A
study Of the delinquent with respect 10 his
economic condition, the material condition Of
his home. his condition TO Orphanage. etc. .
the physical. mental and moral conditions OF
his parents confirms the above thesis and shows
that not only all the normal offences. but some
OF the morbid or abnormal delinquencies. are /
the product Of his environment. 81 OF the re
TO 10 per cent Of first offenders
some are insane. others morbid and some few /
others perhaps atavstic. and might be called /
in & rletaphorical sense born criminals a. +
The stigr1lata theory OF the Italian school (of /
the famous crImino0gist, Loubroso) applies +
only TO a more limited realm than they claim. /
- There are stigmata OF either crime or /
types Of crime. but only Of abnormality or de- /
90 The causes Of delinquency are /
many ana spring from every department Of .
life. but they focus in sucf a way that We may /
name the non-functionings or serni-functionary .
home as the chief cause "a The treatment Of /
the normal delinquent should be primarily the /
influence Of a strong personality eXerted IN the .
atmosphere of a home, natural or foster. - /
The abnormal delinquent should he subject 10 [
sDecial treatment and isolation until cured. or /
until he is eliminated
We forbesr quoting from the host OF incidents
and examinations carrying the writer and his
,ea,5ers irresistibly 10 these broad conclusions.
NJ Travis IL not niggardly with facts; he draws
freely from personal and other observations in
-ero-rnatories asylums and courts; scrutinlzes
he children Of paupers, incompetents. criminals.
he ordinary Door and the ordinary country peo-
IA aud considers the various influences upon
.bila-an worked By climate, local customs labor
,rtons the factory system. tramps, hoodlum
,a,es had literature. physiological crises ana
disease He mas picked out the typical ana the
,,re in each OF these excursions, ana pF shuH-
,,r, the teD1ptation TO prove too much. sue
eds IN driving home most forcibly the three
aesoDs which everybody having anything 10 DO
With children. especially bad ones must learn
nd learn 10 use. These lessons are the reia-
i've impotence Of heredity for good or for bad IN
he upbuilding Of character. the tremendous IN
uance of home life. and the urgent need OF
aacbars blessed with personality. We hope MI
,-.,t. win carry these truths 70 many people
Tho through ignorance Of them. are hinderlhg
eforrns Of school court and the Ia" winch VIII
i've bows and girls fair chance 10 become iio'
1ai men and women.
THE POSTAL 4ONUMENT.