The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-09-08

Ben B. Lindsey, Judge of the Juvenile Court of Denver.
 (Judge Lindsey recently visited MT. Edison's laboratories and heard him explain how motion, pictures might be used to vitalize the studies in our public schools so as to create in boys of evil habits and tendencies a real interest in things worth while. MT. Edison is now devoting much of his energy and thought to this field of er- perimentation. After seeing on the screen demonstra tions of what he is accomplishing, Judge Lindsey wrote out the following story.)
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 Tony would not go to school He was a chronic truant in spite of all threats of reform school. What diff ference did that make to him? He was already in jail-when he went to school Fear of policemen was as nothing compared to his fear of the least common multiple and the great est common division He "could not help it, he was always saying when he failed.
 Finally he couldn't stand it any longer to have the boys and girls in school laughing at him as he stood dumbly at the blackboard-he, the leader Of a gang! He bolted, stole some brass from a freight car, sold it to the ragman, saw a moving pie ture show, and was off for the noun tains that seemd to rise to the clouds just at the foot of the street.
 He nearly froze to death sleeping in box car, and was carried away to Lincoln, Neb. There he got 'pinched by de cop'' and they brought him back to Denver to my school, the juvenile court.
 Irony is just hopeless,'' said his teacher, a truant officer, a railroad policeman, a probation officer, a plain clothes man-the whole battery lined up against him. 'It's the third or fourth time. Is it possible the judge won't send him up? Is he going to encourage crime like that? Just listen to that kid'-this, as Tonys fearful pleas rose above wagging tongues and shaking heads.
 "I couldn't help it, Judge. I just couldn't help it. I dunno why I did it.''
 ".But,'' chimes in teacher. or truant officer, some member of the battery, i've told him that if he did it again he surely would go to the State In- dustriaI School for Boys. And he can help it if he wants to. He is one of the brightest boys in school Don't be easy with him. There are so many others like him.
 Tony was michievous indeed. Now, by law and fate he was a criminal Ills eyes were full of tears, but roguish as when he first beat it from de cops" was saying to myself what could not say out loud: Tcny, vou poor little victim. This whole wretched system should be here before the bar of justice, not you How would like to try tiff it did not get
 &11o IIT1d n prejudice.''
 How cruel it was this system that chained him to a desk. forbade him even a whisper, a wigg1e or a giggle- would not let him break out with question or laugh. IL stifled and misdirected the energy or the child. not for him or his good, but for the tradition, for the peope who turned the cranks and did the grind ing.
 TTonv's brother came to plead for him You remember, Judge, when was up for the same thing twelve years ago?
 are YOU? What are you doing now?'
 .I'm twenty-two now, Judge. You see YOU let me quit school when I was in the sixth grade. I just coul0n get along there. and you let me go to work Pm married now, and say Judge, you just ought to
 That's fine, Angelo. We certainly had a time of it, didn't we?''
 The battery is looking on with dis gust. The owls are hooting.
 ssYes." says Angelo. "'I can't thank vo,1 enough for what you did for me. 1f YOU will only give Tony another chance like you did me. He isn't real lv bad He just won't stay in school' When he gets out he just has to do something. They won't let nm go 10 work. so he gets into mischief and then into trouble. But please don send him up. Judge.''
 Now, of course, the teacher wanted to do the right thing. So did all or the battery. It was not matter or their good will, or even of their intel ligence, but of tradition-of silly edu- cationa1 custom like that of the Chinese.
 I can imagine a little girl brought before a Juvenile court in China
 "she won't keep the bandages on, says the prosecutor. 'She tears them off and runs out in the street. She is bright enough and knows that it is all wrong"
 There is nothing to do but send her up." chimes the Chinese battery. "Of course, Judge, you will insist up- -n having her feet bound Hasn't 1t been done for thousand years? This court has been established to defend the traditions of a great people-our ancestors, who are now dead. The children? Oh, that is different
 Poor teacher. Poor battery. Vic 1 tims all, rather than culprits, as much To be pitied as Tony. Like him, they might say we can't help tive just can't help it.'
 The judge might say: ''Yes. know l it. poor little teacher. But we can't | say it out 1oud-at least you can't for