New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-10

THERE arc title galore IN tins free and independent
country Of ours. However, being an lnrl-'cuilv
democratic sort Of nation the presumption l- that
such appcation, m al cases prciNcI lo designate
line OF special pfoic lonal cndcdvor rather than no.
blity Of birth or soul
MI Of which is merely 10 emphasize the fact that
probably the unique tltuldr distinction m the world
borne by American citizen, and an intensely demo
cratic one a. that. IT. possession docs not privilege
Ernest X Coulter to append any part OF the alphabet
10 his name, does It sanction the wearing OF a be-
ubboncd pendent rampant upon the broad and muscular
Cypdnsc 81 his breast, The only outward sign oi Coul-
tiers title lies IN his smiling, sympathetic face There
something Of tcndcrnc5 tcmpcung strength IN the eyes
and mouth Of the man that puzzles You blt until YOU
learn its source. Then You understands for Ernest
Coulter the original Big Brother, not the common
garden variety o brother who has ms kiuship thrust
upon him; but the born, stcadtast, unwaycrng big
brother OF every ragged, unfortunate street gamm in
the world.
Coulter doesn't mind the absence Of ribbons or icw-
clcd decorations. They wouldn't ht in with his mental
makeup Like Cornclia his Jewels are human. but
where the Roman matron had but two Coulter has
many Thousands and the JOY OF watching an ever IN
crcasng addition to his possessions.
THE Big Brothcrng habit got "a firm stronghold on
Coulter long before he came TO New York. II
nearly cost him his first job. Graduating from the Ohio
State University in 1893, he secured position as cub
reporter on Pittsburgh paper. Here he cynccd so
much interest IN the street urchns OF the Smoky City
that his city editor informed him he had a mistaken
TO gather and dispense news not To run Stun
kindergarten. Thereafter he succeeded in creating a
purely imaginary line between his vocation and his avo
cation, and held on 10 both
Developing into first class reporter he gravtatcd
toward New York few years later, and naturally also
gravtacd to the East side, where lac again began his
task OF winning the friendship OF the shrcwd suspicious
young dcnlZcns Of the streets. OF he sucCccdcd
for even then the born Big Brother understood the
gamin's viewpoint Of life as probably other man
Quickly the word was spread that dat guy is on de-
level, and Coulter admitted TO their friendship
And the friendship OF these youngsters knows no
reservation. Coulter soon learned Of conditions that
appalled, him. One remedial chance he saw that Of
correcting the absolute injustice of chasing unrcsrancd
mischicvous boys criminals and melting ont the same
sort Of punishment as is given the confirmed crook He
believed and subsequent events have demonstrated the
truth of his conviction that there few really bad
boys; AL any Of them needed fair chance to I'M
dcrstand, and real opportunity 10 get Of habits
created by an environment into which they were born
In 1902 the Chdrcn's Court opened in New
York, and in recognition Of his work for its establish
mcnI Coulter was made its clerk. From that dav the
avocation became life task, and the Big Brother came
into his own Today he is practising law; but helping
his boys still remains Coulter real hlcwork