The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1922-04-02
THE INCORRIGIBLE
(Ry J. w. cRARY, SRI


The question as what to do with the
young citizen that through his or her
persistent hayward nature has gained
this title is a very perplexing one, If
we have not studied the child nature
and surroundings with the atmosphere
that this character has been allowed
to live in.
There are a great many remedies
that we have applied, yet the best of
these have failed in the intention at the
onset; we are prone to Judge each
case alike and not the individuality of
each separate; the officers OF the law
in nine cases out of ten look at each
offense as prescribed by custom or
statute, and the charged one is, per-
haps, not given the credit Of it's home
life or associations, and thus the pun
ishment often and in more cases than
otherwise bears far more evil effects
than the offense that was committed
at first.
We have detention homes and houses
of correction where we put these boys
and girls to punish them; thus at the
onset we are beginning the first lesson
on chronology, that is to ostracize the
child while the foundation of the man
and woman are easily changed. Society
has put the ban on this young citizen
in youth and, like all humanity, they
have certain amount of sympathy
for each guilty one they are daily as
ISOLATED with and, as is often the case,
instead Of looking upon their confine-
ment as punishment for evil doing they
feel the disgrace so to speak and see
the hand Of the commonwealth against
them, and matters are made worse on
ly in a more resentful mood than in the
onset.
They serve the time, and, instead of
changed creature they are more eau
tious in their depravity and the world
turns their back upon them, the church
only gives them sanction and society
>taboos them entirely; now, what is
before them, the seed sown in infancy
and legally cultivated only began GER
n1ination in the detention home and
other institutions, and now as the Bit
ter waters Of the world is the only
moisture that they have to make citi-
zens of, we can only expect a very
low percentage to reach that exalted
position of useful citizenship.
Lhave often seen the difference in
showing a little attention and care
taking with a boy. as a few years ago
while / was interested in getting up
an organization that boys from IL to
Is, was admitted, and this organization
was under control of an adult mem
bership, a, certain boy was brought in
as a candidate for membership there
was quite a protest against the boy
uniting, and after the opposing parties
had expressed the belief that the party
best fitted to handle the youngster was
the sheriff, stated that as comman-
der of the bunch of boys, which num-
bered about 80, that l wanted to get
him before the sheriff, and I would
cheat that official out of a charge. the
boy was taken in and was obligated
and responsibility placed on him with
certain amount of guidance, and
can say today that he is a good citizen
and the sheriff has never been after
him.
This is a great question and one in
which the fortunate man and woman
cannot shirk their duty in taking an
interest without Sinking the duties
OF good. law abiding citizenship and
Christian duty, no use in setting up in
the front pew and turning thjs busl-
ness over to God. for what has He put
you here and thrown your advantages
around you for, just to enjoy them and
live for yourself and own responsible
ties as a parent perhaps. you do not
deserve credit for raising your own
family right il you are right yourself
and the easiest way to keep them right
is to see that the other fellow does
his duty, not by force, hut by such
means as making the party feel that
he is needed as man or woman as the
case may be.
I should think if each church would
cover the territory and look in the by
ways and hedges. perhaps nearer home
than the average layman may think he