Free trader-journal. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1916-1920, 1917-02-21
THE GIRL PROBLEM
By Ben. b. Lindsey.

By Ben. b. Lindsey.
Judge of the Denver Juvenile Court
When clildren's courts we're first
instituted in this country the num-
Der of boys dealt with by those courts
far exceeding the number of girls.
But gradually the cases concernine
Girls grew in number until now. in
some Jurisdictions, the difference is
not nearly so great; and while the
cases concerning boys. as yet-,n
most cities-are considerably in ex-
cess of those concerning girls, the
girls eases are growing, no: only in
number. but in difficulty.
This is because more attention il
being given TO the case of the girl;
more cases are being discovered that
need such attention throu the more
effective work Of those courts that
deal with youth Girls are being bet
ter protected than ever before, Be.
cause of the privacy and secrecy
thrown about such cases for the pro-
lection of the girl, both the girls and
their parents are more willing to pre-
sent their troubles to these tribunals
Perhaps ninety per cent OF the
cases concerning girls are what are
known as sex eases" We find. in
our own experience, very few girls
charged with larceny, although out
side OF the sex cases, cases OF petty
stealing are most numerous. Girls
like pretty things and the temptation
that comes thru this fact is the chief
cause of the cases of larcey in which
they are involved Larceny cases
are frequently reported by depar
ment stores and other small shops an6
by people who employ young girls as
As a rule. they are not
difficult TO deal with
Contributory delinquency laws that
permit the officers TO hold adults
strictly accountable for their conduct
with young girls, have been a great
help in getting girls disposed to be
maynard, under the protecting arm
Of the court officers before it is tee
late In the case of the girl, the OLD
adage that AN ounce of prevention is
better than a pound Of cure" is es
pecially applicable
! am not one of these who are dis
posed TO despair over the case OF the
ohronic delinquent girl or the Cir
who is Indifferent as to her virtue. ;
nm always anxious to emphasize the
importance and the value of the Wort
for girl before she takes the fata
step. After that the difficulties in.
crease in far greater proportion
The desire for pleasure and to com
oete with ether girls in the matter o.
lresS and finery are among the chic
7auses of the downfall of girls.
often begins in that sort OF rebellion
that expresses itself first in the home
when the girl. in spite of the warn
ings of her mother, persists in hav
ing her own way to go where shf
pleases and, generally, when sh
pleases. to places Of amusement.
These places are mostly the pictur
hows, thcaters, dance halls and OF
automobile rides. II is perfectly
maa.ng how carele~s girls are b.
coming as to their conduct in thi
egarG. Meny girls think nothing G.
aking up with absolute stranger:
whom they meet on the street in pc
.ure shows or that aCcost them Will
passing in an automobile.
The great majority OF such sudda'
'cquaintt nce3 are, Of course, danger
GUS A certain tyne of young men il
the cities makes business Of i'm
posing upon girls who are given te
uch indiscretlons.
In many homes there is a separa
tlon between father and mother, who