The Irish standard., 1919-04-12
he City Missionary And
The Juvenile Court

The Juvenile Court has been written
about often. It its infancy enthusiast
tic admirers spoke well and compre-
hensively of its activities. Now that
1t has passed the snort-pants stage
there should be much more to say
about its power for good. On close
examination, however, there seems
to be little or nothing to add to what
has been said some years ago. Where
then, is the reason of a write
up of the Juvenile Court today? The
writer presents this article to the pub
lie by request, and hopes that its read
ers will become more interested in the
work Of priests attached to such courts
who should have the assistance Of
many earnest colab0rers.
At the time of establishment Of the
Juvenile Court there was crying need
for such legal institution. The same
need exists today. The Juvenile
Court has taken its place in the front
rank of social agencies that labor to
better conditions where delinquen ~
propoeates The Ju7enile Court is the
smiling face Of crhs.nzcd philanthropy
to the neglected and abused child
while 1t is at the same time the strong
arm of the lsw reaching out to those
who neglect the body, corrupt the mind
and dwarf the moral stature of future
citizens.
Conditions that demand the exis.
tence and require the untramelled op-
Grafton of children's court cannot
all be met down here. Conditions that
make juvenile court necessary are
known to men and women who have
had years of experience dealing with
homes where delinquency soon be-
comes vice. To tell of the experience
that some small children-especially
girls-have gone through would be to
open page in the life of the depraved
that would shock the ordinary reader
To set down a simple record of the
seem to be translating Turkish-Arme-
MAN horrors to this fair country, or
dragging up from far distant centuries
crimes committed by bestial people.
There are many boys and girls in this
city who should have our sympathy,
your help and In some cases your per-
sonal care. Not getting the food, cloth
ing, education and protection that
Christian charity should unostenta-
tiously give it becomes necessary for
social workers and ppblic-spirited off,
cials to labor for the future well-being
of those who are now half-starved,
often abused and in too many instances
living under degrading influences. In
the recent past true friends of the de-
pendent and delinquent have given
countless days and many nights to the
organization and institution of a so.
cial-legal tribunal which would become
the logical center of social activities
Of all charitable individuals, of philan-
thropic and corrective associations.
The Juvenile Court meets every legal
demand while it affords ample oppor-
tunity of getting desired results
through the practice of charity.
The Juvenile Court is the school
where many youth is taught his first
impressive lesson about right and
wrong; and the anti-chamber to the
Juvenile Court is Outlines the place
where the boy or girl first hears of the
reverence due to God and receives the
first instruction about the important
concerns Of the soul. The ideal chill
dren's court is presided over by q
tender-hearted and far-seeing Judge
who has ever the future well-doing OF
his wards at heart and who courage
ously attacks the causes that send boys
and girls to court and correctional in.
situations.
The development Of criminal char
acter goes on in boyhood. The pro
cess of criminal making is usually
slow. The things done by the bad boy
are generally not very grave. He who
gradually becomes a criminal is, al
thirteen or fourteen years of age, q
troublesome pupil in school, disobedi
emit child at home and more inclined
to associate with bad than good com
panions. II earnest efforts are made
to direct the Maynard boy Alright, II
proper restrictive agencies are EN-
ployed to curb evil inclinations the
outcome in nearly all cases will be
favorable. Many parents are incom
petent to train and direct children
Alright. Too many others are indiff
erent and leave to school and church
authorities the whole task of develop
ing strength Of character in their boys
and girls. Teachers have enough tc
do to teach the children. When there