The Mena weekly star., 1921-03-31

TyIRST I want to thank the goot
 people of Polk county for co A operating and helping me in thit much needed work. Especially do thank the teachers of Mena for help ing me keep in touch with the absenf boys and girls in their school. realize that it is no easy task to teacf in crowded rooms and have mum Der of students not interested in study 1 nor in good order but there merely be cause they have to obey the law However, 1t shows that the teachers are willing to do their part towart helping in this great movement
 Homelife Almost Unbearable.
 have had people say they wouldn' have my wcrk for anything. l feel that it is an honor to be in my posi- tion never had work liked better 1 Of course l have heartaches. But with it all comes the thought that l am helping humanity, and that ache IS soon changed to joy. 1 have visited homes in Polk county where life is al- most unbearable. Right here in our own little town there are homes in which conditions are terrible. We have mothers bending over the wash tub from daylight to dark, trying to feed and clothe their little ones. How can they provide the proper homes :? Is 1t wonder that we have delin- quents Surely these little ones de- serve a chance. What are we going to do about 1t? Nothing? No, we must see that they have chance. This is not one mans job. nor one woman's, but every citizen must do his or her part.
 There is brave little mother with five children living near the main part of town. She has been unable to work for weeks on account of sick ness. She didn't complain to the au- thorities for help, but men living near found out her condition and went to her rescue. Then the Baptist ladies heard of her case, and from then on have not worried, for knew that she wouldn't suffer,
 Children in Ignorance.
 There is another family living near the heart of town. They have five children of school age, and only one pretending to go to school. He goes on an average of once a month. It is crime to society to allow children to grow up, neglected as these are. Steps are now being taken to get these children into school.
 l found a little boy nearly nine years old who had never been to school. On visiting the home found the father out of work, and the little boy with scarcely any clothing. With the help of the Elks and travelling salesman, this lad soon was fitted out with the necessary clothing. Miss Louise Durham, principal at Central school, tells me that she hasn't finer pupil in school. The father and mother are very proud of him and have promised to do everything In their power to keep him in school. These are not the only families in Mena that need assistance There are more just as bad and some perhaps even worse.
 Bays in Industrial School.
 The Juvenile court has had seven teen boys from different parts of the county to deal with since the first of the year. Eight of these have been sentenced to the Industrial school at Pine Bluff. But six have been parbied to their parents on good behavior. So far all of them are doing well. Two of these were considered very bad. and the court hesitated about parolling them, but against the wishes of some they were sent home, and my report for February from their teacher. their father and a member of the school board was very pleasing. We believe that these boys are going to make men worth while.
 Children Had No Chance.
 One of the most pitiful cases have had was in the South part of the county. There was a mother and father with three sons between the ages of II and l6. There was a home where life had become unbearable at all Poverty had been staring them in the face for months Discord was in this horne. Of course the boys were bad. Is it a wonder that they commit ted crimes2 The neighbors warned me before l called not to let sympathy get the best of me, and l thought that my heart was steeled, but when 1 en- tered that room and saw the mother sick in bed, the house upside down in disorder, and the boys in rags l melted, It was a sight that would have touched any heart. Those two