The Washington herald., 1912-01-14

Vanswinkle found out, strong drink will
not permanently drown our cares"
The court then begin on a new tack.
Does liquor. do you any good?' -
Driven to Corner.
The defendant pauses. He .disIikes to
admit that the drink habit is useless;
for, ah! the flowing bowl has such pleas
ures! But reason can lend no leniency.
and the reluctant reply comes forth:
We'll, can't say It does, your honor"
Doesn't It do you harm?" asks Judge
De Lacy.
Yes; it does" is the usual answer.
Then you are a most unreasonable be-
ing TO stick to a habit which does you no
good and much HARM" adds the Judge.
And the little scenario ends with the
defendant holding up his right hand.
while the clerk, leaning back in his chair.
administers the oath to abstain from
the use of all alcoholic beverages and TO
keep out Of places where they are sold
for the space OF one year, so help you,
God"
When the child Of the defendant is
present, Judge De Lacy frequently i'm
presses the temperance lesson on the
nonsupport offender in another effective
manner. -
Which do you love the most. liquor
or your child7'' inquiries the court, point
ing to the little innocent one, hiding its
head in the folds of its mothers dress"
why, Judge, my child. of course" re-
plies the defendant, smiling and looking
affectionately toward his offspring.
Your actions speak otherwise" fires
back the court Now you can't support
your children Gad the drink habit also.
The law expects you - support your chill
dren: It does not expect you to support
the liquor business. Do you want your
child when It grows UP to follow your
example and take TO drink"
mo, indeed, don't" comes the speedy
reply.
well you are doing nothing to pre-
vent this, Like father, like child. The
child thinks that what papa does is all
right. II you love your child as you
say you do then, Of course, you are en-
tirely willing TO take the pledge of total
abstinence?"
Taking the Pledge.
There is but one reply. Up goes the
right hand, and the clerk mechanically
administers the pledge.
In some cases the mother-in-law enters
as the disturbing element Judge De
Lacy's advice in these cases Is always
the same. The solution is philosophical
and effective.
MY advice to you." says Judge De
Lacy. addressing the married couple, ''is
to live apart from your relatives. No
less a distinguished person than George
Washington once said that no house is
large enough for two women. Establish
home for yourselves, and make the
home a mecca Of happiness"
,,,t, ttara ore ALA
petitions for the commitment of children
to the care of the Board OF Children's
Guardians, because Of their having un-
suitable homes and nome surroundings.
During the past year 35I such petitions
were fled. Fifty-nine of these petitions
were denied Judge De Lacy always hes
itates before separating parents and chill
dren. He believes that families should
be kept together whenever possible
There are many mothers Who are only
too glad to relieve themselves Of the bur-
den OF responsibility in caring for their
offspring. There are other mothers who
through wrongdoing, have rendered
themselves unfit for their children.
You must remember" says Judge De
Lacy to these mothers. that the highest
ideal Of the child Is that of mother. II
in its mother the child is deceived, there
is absolutely no hope for It. Its foun-
tain Of love and affection is suddenly
stopped forever. The child can never
trust another person in this world"
Most Of the Juvenile offenders are
brought into court on charges of larceny.
OF the 1,907 Juvenile offenders who were
brought before Judge De Lacy during the
past year, COS Were charged with larceny.
The desire to steal seems to attack some
Of the youngsters like a grim disease
The court finds it difficult to reform the
ways of the kleptomaniac It will be
found that the habitual offenders are
usually brought into court because of
theft. OF the thirty-one delinquents who
were arraigned before the tribunal for
the third time last year, fourteen were
charged with larceny.
The Juvenile Way.
Judge De Lacy has a talk. however.
which turns many Of the young thieves
into the ways of the honest man.
IF you had s. OF your own," asks the
court of the young defendant, '.youId
you want boy whom you knew to be a
thief to be in the room with that $50"
The youngster invariably hangs his
head and begins to describe a variety of
circles on the floor with his foot. Theno1
is a profound silence. The court finally
repeats the question.
mo, SIR" answers the boy in a whis-
per.
why notf. asks Judge De Lacy.