The Ordway new era., 1910-04-22
JUVENILE. DELINQUENCY
Rocky Ford Boys Arrested. Judge
McDaniet GeGvers Lecture on
. Duties of Parents

2 sH \
Another chapter In the recent La
!. Juuta Juvenile sensation was enacted
on Saturday, when n couple OF Rocky
Ford youths were. arre-ted- upon a
charge .of contributing To the delin-
auency VI two girls nf tender years
Mabel Pifer and Neva Lance OF La
,Junta-who ON Friday were sentenced
by Judge Mcdaniel TO the State ln'
dustrial School for Girls. ...-
1t Is reported That e-girls gave
the authorities a list OF ofmen-some OF
them prominent citizens of La unta
-and young fellows, who had con-
tributed to their downfall: and on the
list IL is said were pames OF some sew
en- youths from this city, two OF whom
have been arrested and have given
bonds for, their appearance ut the
June term Of court.
In sentencing the girls Judge NC
Daniel took occasion to deliver a lee
ture upon the duty Of parents, the
following portions OF which we com
mend to the earnest consideration OF
every parent: -.
..In making final disposition OF
these cases it occurs to me that some
observations concerning them may
profitably be made. have no desire
10 probe wounds already deep and pain
ful; but sense otduty to this commu-
nifty impels me to say thatthe primary
responsibility for the conditions re-
vealed by this investigation, lies with
the parents whose luck OF parental
care allowed opportunity for the con.
duct which has brought these young
girls into court. Ny INCLINATION Is to
pass over this matter OF the parents
responsibility without comment, out
there are other parents In this com.
munity who need to profit BY this ex'
perience.
when girl Of tender years finds
opportunity for the course OF conduct
confessed by some Of these girls. con.
tinuIug In some Instances fur two
years. her parents cannot excuse
themselves by saying that they did
know nor suspect 1t. It. Is the duty
Of parents to know at all times the
whereabouts Of their girls until they
reach years Of discretion. and to guard
them from persons and influences that
would Undue them with wrong con-
ception OF life and It's duties, and
when parents fail to do this IT. Is the
duty OF the juvenile court to take
their place.
~ believe another very important
duty Is neglected by most parents,
and that Is to meet every inquiry that
naturally comes with the growing In.
telllgence and development OF the
child with fullest Information. Had
that course been intelli.ently pursued
with these girls aud with The boys
that contributed to their delinquency,
their Knowledge OF themselves anu
their sense OF personal responsibility
aud Of duty To others would have pre-
vented the conduct We are called on
to reform.
II have known parents who ex'
pressed pride In what they called the
Innocence OF their daughters o
twelve and fourteen years OF age. In
most instances the only basis OF this
pride Is the innocence OF the parent,
for the child has gained from her
playmates the knowledge she ought TO
have received from her mother. lg-
norance is not innocence, but danger,
..,l, ln,, ,,ns hnr n.
ter to gain knowledge OF her most I'M
portaut functions and duties, In the
imperfect and dangerous form in
which It comes to her from her play
mates, Is dcrelict in her most sacred
duty. ."-Rocky Ford Enterprise.