The Washington herald., 1918-04-02

for boys VINO are hungry for the
things Of life that are really worth
while and who avoid the influences
making for evil. They obviously
ought TO be included in ''our nrst
care" As a matter Of fact, they are
the first care now. But Il is plain
that they have not been given care
enough. Anyone who looks at the
problem OF dealing with the young in
our civilization knows that they have
not been rightly used. They have had
to have prophets like Ellen Key and
Jane Adams to educate the public 70
the idea that the youth Of the race
merit the greatest OF all conEiders-
tion and that the more they get the
more they have TO give as they grow
into maturity.
In dealing with children siciety has
been very short-sighted. II has taken
many years TO wake up. But II L.
now so concerned that we are living
in what has been called. with some
justification. the century OF thn
child
1T is generally a defective or feeble
minded brain that shows lack OF pru-
dence and forethought and that thinks
to follow the forbidden is great sport
That is the thing In a nutshell.
Let us assume. for the moment. that
il really is the thing in nutshell.
What is TO be done about the deiec-
! tiyes and feebIe-minded? After COM
! ing into the world with a handicap are
! they to be further handicapped BY be-
ing shut up in institutions OF disgrace
called prisons and made TO feel like
outcasts and TO become haters Of So
! ciety? Their helpfulness leaves them
not less appealing. but more so. Work
that is done for them does not IN anv
way detract from work done to keen
others from being like them. On the
| contrary, it is likely 10 be their means
OF encouraging the other and even
more important kind OF work.
But is IL really true that prisoners
are generally defective or feeble
minded? On this point there is a WIds
! difference OF opinion. Many Of them.
l il is plain. are feeble-mindcd AID
| ought 10 receive medical and psychr,-
/ logical rather than punitive treatment.
| They are the most pitifUl casss Of all.
Many others are defective Iu wsls
| that lead them to lTcak the law and
are partly. IL not wholly. Irrcsponsl-
| Bile. A large number are pIIsorCrs az
4 the result OF circumstance. often %.
/ circumstances that are shame aud
a reproach 10 society. They can 10
/ helped and. in most instances r,-
/ stored 10 peace Of mind and healthy,
serviceable activity.
1t is men OF this last kind that tie
woman ] write about wished 10 hoIp.
She knew that many bIunders were
made in the operation OF the law arI
| that they caused a fearful amount u
! social waste and avoidsbIe anguish.
: She also knew that by being able 10
| help the friendless her worth a.
! friend became greater than she In I
. realized. II more people shared her
enthusiasm for service there would BE-
a wider understanding Of the causes
/ leading so many young men into pri.-
| on and there would be a stronger
effort TO protect boys from temptation
and TO give them opportunities for
! growth and the 10Y OF life without Re-
sorting to the adventuring leading jail-
wards
As for the constructive work in be-
half Of the young. il Is only begin
ming. 1t is related 20 those changes
! in the social order that are bound
| TO remove the gross inequalities amt
put the children OF the poor al 90
hideous a disadvantage We can't
have really fine body OF children in
/ the nation till all the children have
I a good chance TO enjoy the fruits C
/ the earth. to be Well-noUrished. 70
lEe in clean. stimulating conditIors.
and TO be thoroughly equipped for the
! struggle Of life. Those who work f0r
better social order are working for
children, all chilren, those now headed
| for jail and those who could not 60
| to Jail under any circumstance