The Natchitoches enterprise. (Natchitoches, La.) 1888-1965, 1916-09-21
THE SECOND AMENDMENT.

handicapped in every way, to know
what to do, but after a great deal
of trouble and expense and many
embarrassing experiences, they sue
ceeded in placing the unfortunate
deIinquents in certain institutions
IN Texas and New Orleans
Recently the Mutual Aid had a
certain case that gave more trouble
than any that had ever before come
within its province, and after
many unsuccessful attempts to ar
range for the placing of the two
children in any institution, the
idea occurred to the President of
the Mutual Aid Of writing to
Judge Wilson of the Juvenile
Court of New Orleans and his
answer is of general interest for
many reasons, but principally be-
cause it explains in way one of
the amendments that is being pub
Iished IN this issue and will be
until the election in November,
when we hope the: electorate OF
the state will vote for it unani-
mously. The letter is as follows;
New Orleans, La, Aug. IL, 'lf
Mrs. Edward Phillips,
Natchitoches, La,
Dear Madam
Your interesting letter Of July 18th.
came duly to hand, and have put of
writing until l might personally do So
You present the usual problems that
are constantly arising IN the country
parishes because of the absence OF
facilities and also because of the unwil'
angness OF ponce Juries TO spend one
cent loc 1ne assistance u dependent O
ueAuquehG chIiuren. aou KNOW, oi
course, that our experience is InaC way
with country parishes, that we are the
receiving depot of many unfortunate
families and children deliberately sent
acre ny country parishes, who unIoaC
Lheir BURDENS on Us, ara expect Us to
assume Laem, and which VIC nave u d.
because it Is CHARITY OnlV last
Week Lhe nome MISSION Society, prot
estant ladies' of Morgan City, sent q
woman and four chiluren here to as 20
care Tor. and | mad 70: as you under
atssns. lretez u this Iagae.aee Dscanss
i see in the new amendment to the
State Constitution which compels the
adoption Of juvenile court practices in
every parish, relief for you and all
other good folks in the country who are
up against police juries and other con-
ditions, for police juries will have to
make their own provisions for delin-
ouent and neglected children.
AS matter of fact, cur local instl-
tutions, OF every character. are kind to
Won folks, and will, on payment of a
weekly or monthly stipend. care for
any children to be sent here The
House of Good Shepherd is much
abused institution, ] mean, its mission
and work are misunderstood. 1t is 8
reformatory and it does good work, and
it's charges are not hopeless. To the
contrary, / have seen most frequently,
the most remarkable reforms, perhaps
two thirds of the girls are reformed
honestly, and need but the helping HAND
outside to keep them in the right path,
and break away from old environments
They are not all bad and immoral girls
ia there. / have to send incorrigiblt
girls there. and they have what we
call St. Agnes Hall for these away
from the immoral or lost ones. They
get association with the sisters and guild
ance from them, and of course the re
suits are good. The two groups ofgirl
YOU refer to would do for this place; ii
fact do not know of another place ii
our state that will
This leads me to suggest that whel
you have any little charges, and yo1
wish to get them down here, and W,
can help, If you will write me I vii
try to cooperate. If you ladies or tn
Police Jury will pay small stipen
you will have no trouble in getting
help here, provided there is room. w
have done that often; the lsdies 0
Yazoo City, King Daughters, have sen
or brought several charges. And W
have done for other neighborhood
Just as much. It is time, however
that country parishes and towns wax
1p to the need of such accommodation
themselves. When the Juvenile Cour
law becomes universal, as it will afte
January lat, 1917, each parish viii hav
10 make some provision for the care o
boys and girls, white and colored VIII
may be dependent or delinquent. The
you ladies and male friends can get t
work and provide for local conditions
I have often suggested particularly t
the Probe Commission. that block o
parishes, say four. could consolidate in
terests and divide expenses, and get u
very nice sarm and domestic scienc
schools for the average offender. 1hos
who needed other and more professions
attention could be cared for elsewhere
We expect here in, short while now
to provide ourselves with an up-to-dat
parental school, for boys and girls