New-York tribune., 1909-04-19
HAS CHILDREN'S COURT
Paris adopts Ne7c York System for
JuuemIe Offenders.
Paris, Aorii -

Az last Paris has followed the splendid ex.
ample of New York and Boston and has -,
apart one day week for the hearing Of charrs.
against children of both sexes who have been
arrested by the police of the capital Monday
is henceforth to be the childrens day in n.
Paafs de Justice, and from early morning untE
o'clock in the evening succession OF yousr
persons. each escorted by the military municivs
guard, take up their position in the oaken Dew
that is the prisoners dock of Paris.
Some of these youthful figures are very uic.
uresque and the scenes that take place in court
are likely to be very moving when the child
prodigaIs are confronted by a parent There ar.
always present in court some representatives ot
different charitable societies. ready If permitted
to take the girl or the lad from the hands OF the
magistrate and answer for his or her future good
conduct and, in fact, most Of the magistrates
and judges are themselves actively interested IN
some one such society institution, and ara
only anxious to preserve the first offender. whsn
a minor, from the perniciOus atmosphere Of the
prison.
In a batch of young bandits, unwashed. Un-
kempt, fierce and rough looking. there
girl of sixteen years, pleasant Of face, neatly
dressed in black and apparently belonging to a
family in comfortable circumstances She ia-
stantly attracted all eyes in the court and one
mftted. When her turn came to be examined
she broke into loud cries. A charge of theft
was made against her After a few questions.
very gently put the magistrate inquired
whether any member of her family was present.
A man dressed in mourning, and apparently
about fifty, came slowly forward In very low
voice he said: Il am her father"
1t seemed then as though the girls heart wers
broken CRYING bitterly, she called between her
sobs: Father, father" Addressing the man.
the magistrate asked if he were willing TO take
back his child. The father hesitated For a few
seconds there was painful silence in the court;
the girl held her breath waiting for the reply.
All eyes were fixed on the man. His face showed
great emotion. and he was obviously struggling
with himself At last he spoke
L cannot he said
Then the magistrate in a few words renon-
strated with him; he pointed out what would %
the consequences to his daughter if she vera
sent TO prison-the loss of self-respect, the dan
gerous acuuaintances, the degradation This
was not the first time that the girl had CONS
into the hands of the police The magisrrats
would be forced TO give her a severe sentence
But to all his arguments the father still said
only Il cannot"
The girl then tried to change his decision I'M
pIoring him to take her home and give her
other trial promising to be good and obedisnt
He remained obdurate. He could not forgive
his chiId's transgression-
Thev are "of all coIors' as the French say,
these children brought up to answer for Offend
ing against the laws. Here is a small. mother
less boy, whose father. hard working man, had
been unable to look after his son or to see with
whom he associated One fine morning Leon left
his home and took 10 the road. wandering aim
IessIy for hours until he unIuclly fell into evil
hands and worse befelI him More sinned
against than SHINING, in the opinion Of the mag
istrate the child, with the consent OF his father
was handed over to an institution in which ha
will get a good education and be fitted for life
of honest work
The same charge OF -vagabOndage" was
/ brought against very handsome girl OF seven
teen who answered 10 the name Of Germans.
She also found friend in member Of the COM
mfttee of a society that devotes itself 10 the
care of women who have worked out sentence
in prison VIII YOU be steady and sensible n
the future?" the Judge asked her; but Germains
hung her head and replied not a word Ha'
place was taken by a whole band, consisting OF
three girls who acted in concert They were
charged with the same "vagabondage. but as-
gravated by systematic shopIifting. The Court
however decided that they were reclaimaole anu
had acted without "discernment and they Eeg'
forthwith returned 10 their families
A brown faced. slim Savoyard was the nss'
prisoner. accused of robbing his employer hm
the MAGISTRATE ordered TO be sent back to as
native land. and he was taken off with chsei-
fr1l countenance He was succeeded by a thof-
ough little Parfsienne Of thirteen, likewise Al
hicted with the mania OF 'vagabondage. tne III
ability to remain in one place that so many neg
Iected children experience la petite Crocns'
had a very bright and intelligent eye ana -
impertinent turned up nose. and was accuSs
of begging as we'll as straying- She seense
find a court Of Justice no more alarming lAH
the streets she so specially affected ana VS.
much less moved than the aunt who Wah'so "
take her home with her at once. All things ooI
sidered however the magistrate declaeu Us
for Ia petite Crochet" salvation lay elssWn7i
and he ordered her 70 be sent to the Fra'eiH
Iigue for education and upbringing.
It is very evident that Mondays VIII oe 0u'
davs in the law courts henceforth. but II Is 60
tain a great step forward has been taken III L1
keeping the children out of the courts al d 'A
when older persons are being tried Tor ga
offences. As will be seen from these few cas7s
taken from a Mondays list there IS pleh'y
scope for philanthropists who are willing q
vote themselves to the task of reclaimlns 'ns
Young people who made So bad start III -
S'7 GLIB
EDUCATION BOARDS LECTURERS DINE.