New-York tribune., 1910-02-06

Another family which had had bad luck
came into court a week ago through the
discovery that the father had shut himself
and all his family in room and was on
the point If turning on the gas. He had
lost his job and could get no other. and
they were all starving. The court released
the children. who had been brought in on
the ground that they were cruelty treated
The court officer followed and found work
for the father and mother and the eldest
son woman who represented the court
in behalf Of the religious sect 10 which the
family belonged tried to explain the idea of
courage and determination, and showed the
father his mistake in trying 20 annihilate
his family because he thought himself a
failure. Now the family is fairly prosper
Gus and is full Of plans for. a letter future
Hundreds of cases Of this kind stand on
the records and in hundreds Of homes, es-
pecially down in the foreign quarters, par
ents who a few years ago held the Chill
dren's Court over their children's heads as
z warning and a threat now realize that
the Jurisdiction OF this court lies mainly
over themselves. Often. when they are
summoned to court TO account for the mis-
demeanor of tEeir youngster. they nave tFe
opportunity for the first time of seeing
experience. together with some talk and
explaining on the subject later by proba
ton officer. leads 10 the realization that
child viii respond TO reasoning almost as
well as TO a -Iicking''-if not better, some
times
Justice deuel.. IN speaking TO a represent
ative Of The Tribune on the subject Of the
parents whom he met il court. said that
some day they planned TO have court for
delinquent parents. In fact, bill is being
pushed at Albany by Senator Davis which
IS the first step IN this direction. The
measure provides that II child under six
teen gets into mischief through any neglect
or lack Of care on the parents part such
parents shall he held ansWeTable at law
for the child's offence
Parents Justice Deuel. declared, should
be taught the things they should teach TO
their children But as things are now the
full benedcent results Of the present work
Of the ChiIdren's Court viii take one hun
dred and fifty years 10 show. Then the
effect viii be so clear that every one viii
recognize the different kind Of citizens that
the state is producing This applies most
strongly, Of course, TO defective children
and their parents We are beginning to
have children examined by physicians in
these days when they are brought in here
on the charge Of various crimes The usual
case, however, is either that Of the young
ster who makes bonfires and throws stones
in the streets and does other things that
would be all right il the country, or that
Of the little vagTant, i'll kept and immoral,
who has never. been taught TO be decent.
With these last two the probation officer
does quick work
4 striking case is cited of a man whose
son was taken in for vagrancy. The man
was practically a vagrant himself, but
when he understood that the court was
going 10 take his son away and make
him pay & . week for the boys keep
or else put the parent himself in the
penitentiary. he hurried out in a daze
and got work of some kind il order TO be
able 10 pay the tax. Having regular work
was a new experience, but II took so well
with the man that he IS now learning a
trade et night school and is about to put
in d petition for the release Of his son, on
the plea that he is now q prosperous man
and a fl father and has q nice home for
the boy.