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A Story of Environment

By L. E. Eubanks

OBERT WAIN faced a situation that tries the bravest heart and most fertile brain. He must not only overcome the crushing bereavement of his wife's death, but must make some disposition of the two children that would enable him to continue his business as traveling representative of a mammoth mercantile establishment.

Paul Wain, Robert's brother, was anxious to take Herald, the twelve-yearold son, and the boy was delighted at the prospect of living in the country. He has once visited Uncle Paul, and at that time had registered a VOW to be a farmer. And Paul would take Ruth, too. The father knew his brother, and was grateful; but he had long ago formed other plans for Ruth. An unusual child, this girl of ten years, remarkably attractive physically, and wonderfully bright. Her father could not think of submitting Ruth to what his inexperience pictured as "the hardships of the country," and her education which thus far had progressed so rapidly must not be entrusted to rural schools.

With Herald it was different. The 'father had never seen evidence of unusual possibilities in his boy; his school grades were not particularly high, and even with the advantage of two years in age he seemed almost dull, compared to his sister. Mr. Wain loved his children; he would have resented any accusation of partiality-but like many another parent, he knew very little of the psychology of adolescence.

The children's uncle made a strong appeal. He reminded the father that girls even more than boys needed a mother's influence, and in the absence of that, the association of an aunt or some

other close relative-a home environment, in any case.

"That's true in a general way," responded Robert; "but home means less to Ruth than to the average girl. She appears to have little domesticity in her nature; she doubtless will enter the business world. Besides, she will have a regular home at the big college where I shall send her—and probably learn many things about home-life that are neglected in most homes."

"I cannot believe," replied the uncle, curtly, "that in such matters theory is preferable to practice."

So Herald went with his Uncle Paul to the farm, and Ruth entered an expensive institution for girls.

* * *

Five years passed. Robert Wain was a busy man, and it was hard to divide his little leisure so as to spend much time with each child. The farm and the college were a long way apart, and the children did not see each other during that time. The father visited the farm only twice, though he managed to spend a short time twice a year with Ruth.

But the voice of conscience, though low, is persistent. Mr. Wain felt that he was neglecting the boy. In all his letters Herald begged to see his little sister, and finally even threatened to go to her. The father saw that he must arrange a "family reunion," and wrote the children.

Should it be in Ruth's city or Herald's country? The lad was vehement in his arguments; the little lady was eloquent, yet willing to yield her point. The father, comparing the epistles, approved his son's rugged virility but smiled the smile of satisfied pride over his daughter's

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THE JUVENILE COURT RECORD

and egotism seemed to have consumed the little sister of his memory, and left no reminder of their childhood. Nearly every sentence was couched in slang that disgusted the boy as much as it confused him.

At first she made some slight effort to adjust herself to conditions, but on the third day, as the farm became more irksome to her, she said to Herald:

"I guess I get your goat, brother, but the fact is I'm out of cigarettes, and I'll be peevish till I get a smoke."

They were walking through the meadow, and Herald has been expatiating on the beauties of nature and the superiority of country life, favorite subjects with him. At this ruthless destruction of his picture, with which he had hoped to stir his sister's better self, he almost lost patience.

"You smoke! Is that what you learn at that fine school?"

"Rats!" Ruth snapped.

"Don't get

high and mighty. All the girls do it now. It's fine; poor cuss, you haven't even had a chance to learn. I didn't learn it in school, but do you think we never ramble?"

Each pitied the other. Herald knew that he was in the right, but he seemed unable to arouse the girl's old self. She was blinded by the glamour of the city, and had lost her sense of the true and lofty things of life. Herald learned more about Ruth in one week than her father had learned since his wife's death. In a long talk, they decided to make a radical change. But

How little we know of the morrow! On his first trip after his vist to the country, Mr. Wain was killed in a railroad accident. Ruth was first to receive the sad news, and she informed Herald. The youth hastened to the city to take charge

of the body, expecting to meet his sister there. She did not appear, and he could learn nothing at the institution except that the girl had paid her bills, packed her belongings and quietly departed.

One short week transformed a boy into a man. Sad and embittered, Herald swore never to enter a city except on imperative business. Everything that limited means allowed was done to find his sister; but three years rolled by without news of Ruth.

Herald prospered. Steady habits and attention to business brought their usual results. His farm was a garden of Eden, his health remained perfect, and he was soon to be married. Only one cloud marred his happiness; where was Ruth?

One July day, almost exactly three years after the memorable reunion, a "for hire" automobile stopped at the Wain ranch, and a shabbily dressed woman alighted. Always hospitable, Herald hurried to meet her. Ruth, for it was she, waited silently for recognition; then broke into sobs at his failure to know her.

"Is it that bad," she wailed; "am I so changed?"

Tenderly the strong man led the frail woman, who looked old enough to be his mother, to a seat in the cool, clean house. He would not let her talk; she was too weak, and the man knew that a breakdown was imminent.

She was ill for weeks, but gradually regained a semblance of her former health. Herald was a big man; he did not ask questions. What he said was:

"All you need is home influence and · country air. The Jordan farm is for sale, right here next to me, and there's a number of nice follows around here pining for a wife."

HOME VISITOR

Salary ranges from $60.00 to $100.00 a month, the maximum being somewhat less when assigned to institution duty where full maintenance is allowed. Open to male citizens of Illinois over 25 years old.

Men are needed for visitation of

children placed in family homes. Examination at various Illinois points November 17.

For application blank and further details, address State Civil Service Commission, Springfield, Illinois.

Big Brothers' and Sisters'
Conference

Extracts of Address by Dr. H. W. Dingman at Grand Rapids, Mich., May 28, 1917

At the conference of Big Brothers and Big Sisters held in Grand Rapids, Mich.. May 28 and 29, 1917, Dr. H. W. Dingman, President of the Grand Rapids Big

H

Brothers and Secretary-Treasurer of the International Advisory Council of Big Brothers and Big Sisters, addressed the meeting in a stirring address, the following of which is a part:

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EREIN lies the distinction of our

work. We are not Big Brothers and Sisters because it is the proper thing to do. We are not Big Brothers and Sisters because of altruistic notions of elevating the younger generation to a higher sphere, a nobler plane of living. We are Big Brothers and Sisters because we love our Little Brothers and Sisters and it's fun to boost their game. But that's not enough: we are the real Big Brothers and Big Sisters only when our Little Brothers and Sisters love us and recognize us as kindred spirits, as kids ourselves, at heart.

You know there is a big idea in this: we start Big Brothering and Sistering in order to help the kids we love and we continue Big Brothering and Sistering in order to love the kids we help—they grip us. And so what good we do isn't charity (wretched word), it isn't marking up white crosses to offset the black marks in our lives-it isn't any premium for a niche some day in heaven-it's fun and we like it, and we're mighty glad we do. In fact I don't know sometimes

whether we are Big Brothering and Sistering the kids or whether they are Little Brothering and Sistering us.

It's like the nigger who was fishing tarpons and was pulled overboard.

He was rescued half-drowned, and when he revived he said, "Ah wondahs whether this niggah am fishing or that fish am niggering.”

We want the boys and girls to get the Big Brother and Sister attitude. Even more important it is that the Big Brothers and Sisters get the boys' and girls' point of view.

Do you remember, for instance, how potent in our juvenile life was the "dare?" "I'll dare you to do it," and you jump from the roof of the barn. "I'll dare you to do it" and a stone wings through the window. Nobody catches you and you begin to pride yourself that nobody can offer you a dare. "I'll dare you to do it," and then you sort of hesitate. "I'll double dare you," and then you do do it. You've got a reputation to main-tain. You go through the cellar window of that house whose folks went down to

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