Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1943-03-08
Elsie Robinson
Parson Tells
UHow to Cut
Child Crime

THERE'S A two-fisted article
in a new issue of a monthly
magazine which should be COM
pulsory reading for every parent
in America. Its written by the
Rev. M. B. Sackett of the
Protestant Episcopal Church
who's a SKY pilot" today in
our frontline fighting ranks.
And I'm passing on its high
lights with cheers.
This isn't the first time that
Parson Sackett has faced hell
with all knuckles barred.
During the World War I he
served as chaplain Of the 166th
Infantry of the Ohio National
Guard. At another time he had
been father" TO thousands OF
wayward boys in a large reform
school.
He has seen sin coming and
going in countless lives and
knows how and why bad boys
of every age get that way.
Concerning child crime he has
this 10 say:
Take the glamour out OF
crime and il has no appeal TO
the normal child"
Loves Adventure
That's straight thinking.
The average youngster isn't
In love with sin. per sc. He
doesn't start out with yen TO
be a killer. forger. automobile
thief or hold-up man. But he
does start out with a fine
hunger for the red.blooded risks
unrnd adventures healthy humans
ave always craved.
His grandfathers crowded the
covered wagon trail, fought In
dams and grizzlies. drove the
wilderness back, chip by flying
chip. Out OF their fever and fury
the greatest nation on earth was
born.
But what's going 10 feed IA
year-old Billy Whites particu-
lar fever and fury in the year
1913 A. d.
Instead OF endless forests and
plains, we have given him a
mechanical, regimented world
I'm which he is merely a rebel
lious cipher.
Instead OF camp fires and
forest trails, he has Dead End
alleys pool halls juke
joints filthy pulp maya
zines chiller-diller thrillers.
And the constant association OF
zoot suit smartics and cheap
punks.
Caught in the Trsp
What does he do? He reaches
out and grabs, as any normal
boy would do. He doesn't ana
I'VE quality or count conse-
ouences. He sees only the gilt
tering slime, not the black hor-
ror beneath. And too often. he's
caught in the trap.
But who's TO blame? The
restless. excited boy or we old
sters who have been so busy
building a get-rich-quick world
that we've left him only slime
10 satisfy his restlessness
Must Go Further
''Deglamorize crime - true
words. fighting pastor. But. as
YOU well know. we've got TO go
further than that. There's no
use pretending that mere law
Rpiding responsibility will ever
as attractive as two-fisted
adventure.
Christ started things. Stood
the world on its head. He be-
lieved in glamour-the right
kind OF glamour. He followed its
lure even though il led 10 the
cross. And we'll never save
youth or set its wandering feet
on a nobler trail until we fol-
low His example.
Give Them Challenge
II you want 10 take the
glamour out of crime. put the
glamour back into life!
There are still ways TO do IL
challenges which are COM
parable with those our fathers
faced. Let the youngsters face
those challenges, Turn
them back to the land which is
desperately in need OF their
service. Let them build
cabins again hew out clear
ings for summer camps
build roads break colts =.
plant food in vacant lots d.
turn our slums into Fairgrounds
and swimming pools -. organ
ize into bands OF migratory
labor. marching from one state
10 another, saving the crops.
Start another covered wagon
cavalcade-and your cutters
will lose their grip!
COpyright, 1919, BY King Features