The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1911-09-22

IN the Chicago juvenile court a
small, blonde, fat-faced boy was
accused of having twisted the
wrist of a little girl. and taken
from 1t the dollar with which the
mother had sent her to the grocery.
Ibid you do that, George?" asked
the Judge.
George confessed that he had.
And, Mary, what did you do?"
asked the Judge, turning to the little
girl.
II ruined after him, and chased
him, but / couldn't ketch him." George
was a feet kid, you observe.
What did you do with the money!
asked the judge.
George hung his head, smiled slight
Iy, and replied: Il spent it for candy"
Next to George, in the court room.
stands his father, Lithuanian who
cannot speak English. For this pur-
pose an Interpreter is at hand.
Georges mother is dead, father and
son board at little one-horse house.
father works and earns a paltry
amount at the stock yards. George
roams the neighborhood and worries
the citizens and the police. Vacation
and leisure often hurt kids morals.
Here the interpreter tells the father
that the Judge decides George shall
90 into the country; that the father
must pay the farmer 81 week for
the boys board. Money Is always q
thumbscrew to lax fathers. and they
vince under the decision. but in this
instance the father first pays back the
dollar George pilfered, and then
agrees to pay the board demanded.
As the boy trots Oh. the Judge makes
the suggestion that the boy has not
been kept as clean as he ought. and
suggests that the kids ears need q
bath.
Many such parents cannot furnish
the board money. and even when
they promise to do so circumstances
cause them to default Here the
Big Brother and Big Sister league
steps In and helps. It has a salaried
man to escort George to q proper
farm, to see that the board is paid.
that George has the necessary cloth
ing. and that he Is brought back
when school begins. When there are
no parents, or they are too poor to
assume these expenses, the league
shoulders the burden.
Farm life has a civilizing influence.
All that has been lost in the city is
often gained amid waving wheat fields
and beside running streams.
Recently one father wrote thus to
the court:
Il never want to see that fellow
again."
He referred to his SON, eight years
Of age who had been tried IT. court
for delinQuencies, who was placed on
a farm, but who for some reason re-
turned. The letter continued:
las far as the girl Is concerned
60 had sister who had also been
provided with temporary home). l
am willing to take her back any day
when they get through with her, but
never again that dirty thing of a boy.
a. he Is called"
10, the young culprit, confessed
that he had been untidy at home
merely to get back to the farm. He
was second time placed with a farm
~er at Marengo. ILL.,. where he became
orderly. industrious and Clearly. and
made good in every way. The Biz
Brother and Big Sister league thus
brought about wholesome reform.
There are cases Of dependents in
the juvenile court-minors for whom
homes must be found there are de.
Hnquents. who. because Of the gravity
OF the offenses or because Of frequent
iapses from goodness, are trotted Cd
summarfly to corrective schools. bu,
there are leftover" boys and sirls
who often become good men and
women In the highways OF life. mere
~ By being given Q second chance
A case like that of Johnnie Jones
which came up in court the other DAY
- not dimcult to handle. but there an
others moro intricate.
johnnie. little curly-headed quad
room. stood before the Judge with NO,
wnit Of penitence IN his sallow boy
- noe. Hin mother Il colored and