The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1912-06-28
BY ERNEST N. SMITH.

By ENNES W. SWl n.
Especial Correspondence Of the starr
SAN FRANCISCO, June 22.-When
we want sentiment, when we seek the
heart throbs that make us vince and
thing, when we want to escape our
own troubles 10y listening to the solu.
ton of another's problem, we step in.
to our good clothes and wander into
the theater and for a few hours sit
through the mimic troubles Of the
stage.
The acting may amaze us. the del
icate touches of pathos may touch
our emotions, and in ,le end we
wonder at the power of the actor,
marvel at his insight into the hearts
of human beings, and declare him
wonderful How does he do it?
Where does he get his inspiration?
DO you ever wonder? I'll tell you one
way.
Through the police courts of San
Francisco sift he dregs of humanity,
most of them whining a ptiful story
of explanation in a futile effort to
dodge the law. Day after day the
cases drag along before sleepy
Judge, the even tenor of the day only
broken by the raucous bark of a po-
lice court lawyer trying to earn his
fee. Occasionally a defendant of
more than passing moment arouses
the habitues of the courtroom who
crane and laugh and sheer as a shall
low emotion grips them.
Homer Littleton" called the clerk,
and a young man walked out of the
cage and into the dock. A policeman
testified that he had defrauded two
people out of the subscription price
of magazine by failing to turn the
money in to the agents. TSot an UNI
usual case to be sure. Nobody was
stirred to particular activity, 1t was
| almost noon time, long list of
"drunks. had been "Sugged" or re-
leased, and it was nearly time for
the noon recess. The judge drummed
idly on the desk, while the police
man stated his case. Neither he or
any in the courtroom particularly no.
ticed a little man sitting near the
windows. He was strangely well
dressed, had a wonderfully express
sive face and kindly gray eyes and
all the morning had watched every
case with equal interest.
Littleton called upon to testify said
he was guilty, and then losing con-
\ troll of himself he poured out story
with all the abandon of a frightened
nineteen-year-old boy. Plainly, he'd
never been in such a predicament be-
fore, the uncompromising faces about
ed in vain for shred of sympathy,
| kindly look, a word of encourage
ment Tearfully he told the judge
he'd come from Wisconsin a few
months before with $40 and a high
hope of conquering the world But
jobs weren't easy to find. He search
/ ed the want ads, he tramped the
streets, he moved to cheaper and
cheaper rooming houses, until at last
the little pile had melted away.
Someone to d him he could make
money soliciting magazine subscrip-
lions and in desperation he tried it.
1t took MIN all day to get two, and
he walked miles and ate nothing. At
night hungry and forlorn he spent the
magazine money for a meal and
bed hoping with renewed strength to
do better the next day,
But he didn't; there came the de-
mand from tine boss" for an account
ing-and then things moved swiftly.
/ He was caught by the police on a
I complaint and thrown in Jail
i Nothing unusual in that to the usual
courtroom crowd, many of whom had
been in Jail numberless times. The
drove went on as the boy, choking
and fearful plead for forgiveness, a
chance to do right--not to escape Jail
but because he'd done wrong-he ad-
, mitted that and wanted that chance
to square himself
"Aw, what's the kid whimperin' fer
= growled a bum in the back seat star
ing with amazement that any human
: should worry about Just stealing tive
magazine subscriptions.
: ut seems like a sad case" hi.
t Honor remarked when the boys story
r ended. Littleton looked up his eyes
y glistening with hope and tears,
Your Honor" said the prosecuting
attorney coldly, this is a fagran
D. case l would suggest that he b.
.. made an example of and given 81,
! months"
Tho ninataap WAN 1ll Lprr c,io