The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-04-14
Give Fin I Chanoe.

Il = -
No one can doubt the great improve
ment that has taken place in the method
| Of caring for the refractory small boy
who transgresses the law. The Juve-
nile Court is doing most excellent work
in this direction. even though its iniu-
enee for good be meaSured by 50 meager
standard as keeping the young mis-
creant away from the older hardened
criminal But in the larger field of en-
couragement and probationary work
which Judge De Lacy and his allies are
doing, there is much 10 be commended
In handling the cases Of juvenile Of
tenders, it is certain that mercy and
wise discretion should play far larger
parts than should the cold exsctions Of
law and justice We are all, some
times, too much inclined to take the Of
lenses Of the young too seriously. or, at
least, to unduly magnify the. deviations
of the little ones from the path Of REQ
titude At best 1t is big task for one
Of these little ones TO fit himself into the
paths of morality and good behavior
with that degree Of accuracy and pre-
cision that some demand of him. They
are only little fellows whose experiences
in the big world are not large enough
or full enough to draw that well-marked
line that divides right from wrong in the
minds of wiser and older ones
All of the work for .he young in
school, m church. and in the home is
only formative. aud the lesson to be
learned that will make a child fit into
the social world properly is a hard one.
There are none of Us older ones any
better than we ought to be. and it is
small wonder that the little feet 60
astrsy and wobble as they go along the
strait and narrow path, too often to
an accompaniment of seedlings, hard
words, and slows.
1t is serious thing to hale small
offender to court, and it ought not to be
done on slight pretext or in doubtful
cases. Give the little fellow the bene-
fit of the doubt Arrest is 4 disgrace
that is likely TO attach a stigma to a
child that can easily follow him through
life and prove either a handicap to his
success or may so embitter and dis
courage him that no real good results
from it; Then, too, it is hard for him to
stand the gibes and teasing of the other
fellows There are a lot of cases in
which society does not demand such
harsh measures for its protection against
the little hayward one who has stumbled
and, morally. stubbed his toe.
Above ali, when such cases do come
before the Juvenile Court let no more
publicity be given to them than is alb
solutely necessary A boy of twelve
may be very different boy at thirteen.
The turning point may come suddenly
But, if through unnecessary publicity
he has been publicly known as an Of
fender in some slight boyish escapade
or minor offenSe, he will find the road
back all the harder for his little feet to
climb.
1t is great work that is being done
in the Juvenile Court in Washington.
The sound common sense that generally
prevails in it is one of the strongest
forces for good in the community. Let
US go just little further. and by spar
ing the little malefactor all harmful
publicity in the matter, help him find |
himself and make his moral improve
ment easier for him and, at the same |
time, more probable