The Mena weekly star., 1921-03-31

older boys are now in Pine Bluff when they will have chance. Tn mother and youngest son were takel to the home of Mena citizen, ant kept until suitable quarters could b. found They were in this home foi more than a month. l can't describ' to you the change that has come ovel this mother Here was a woman O, refinement that had been denied th' good things of life so long that he whole being had been changed.
 Little Girls in Sad Neglect.
 The court has sent two little girls to the industrial school at Jackson vile. These girls were sadly neglect ed. One of them was brought to my house to stay over night. Her con dition was horrible. She hadn't had a bath for days and weeks; her under clothes were black, and her hair was nothing but tangles. 1t took me hours to get her cleaned up and presentable l had letter from one of these girls last week, telling me how happy they were.
 Another case 1 had was that of a young girl about sixteen years of age She, like the majority of young girls, full of life and with few serious thoughts. Her guardian was an el- derly man, and did not understand her. At times he was very cruel. The court appointed her new guardian, and the report is she is doing we'll. She finishes the common school branches this spring, and we think that she will have the opportunity of attending a first class high school Then she will be a credit to any community.
 Send Runaway Boys Home.
 Six runaway boys have been re- turned to their homes in other states. One of these interested me very much. He was lad with an unusually bright mind, but had no chance to develop it. His mother wrote me a long letter. telling about their troubles. How ever, she promised to be more patient with her son and help him over the rough plaees. The superintendent of schools also promised to look out for Dick.
 l have cases nearly every day that l settle myself. They are mostly for be- ing out of school. But have had others, such as stealing, smoking cig- arettes, fighting, hopping trains, CUTS ing and other small offenses. Dozens have been put in school over the coun- ty. believe that most all of the children in Mena are m school. There are good many seen on the streets at times, but the first and second grades are allowed to attend only half days.
 State Home for Girls and Women.
 The last time that was in Little Rock, 1 visited the Girls Industrial School and the Woman's Farm. They are both wonderful. Miss Blanche Martin is superintendent of the h. dustrial school. She loves aud cares for the children like mother. It makes you want to cry to see how the little girls respond to this love. So many of them have never known a real mothers love. The building is beautiful, aud everything runs along smoothly. There IS a little girl here named Robbie, She is the most trusted one of all. When Robbie first entered this institution she had every social disease known. She and her mother had been living life of shame, It was months before she could be reached, but after much patience on the part of her teachers she began to change. only hope that all the others dismissed from Miss Martins care will be other Boobies. The Woman's Farm Is equally as nice. The 'supin- tendent here is a wonderful woman. 1t Is so sweet to see how these poor women are cared for. We are justly proud that dear old Arkansas has a place like this to which to send her unfortunate women? How much bet. ter to have them loved and taught how to live the right kind of lives instead of throwing them behind the bars. h the refermetc-y they are not treated like criminals. They are never har- assed with the thought that they are lawbreakers, but are treated with all possible respect. They are taught to do all kinds of work, and when re- leased they are able to make honest livings.
 Again l say that I am proud to be helping in this great work. There are only ten counties in Arkansas that have Probation Officers. With your help and mine we can give our boys and girls a chance, so they will grow into men and women that Polk county will be proud to call her own.