IT IS WISER AND LESS EXPENSIVE TO SAVE CHILDREN THAN TO PUNISH CRIMINALS. TJUVENILE CURT RECORD ONE DOLLAR PER YEAR. 10 CENTS SINGLE COPY. BOARD OF REFERENCE. EL Rodenberg, New Orleans, Hon. Charles W. Heuisler, Baltimore, President National Conference Chart- Chas. W. Birtwell, Boston, Leontine Lincoln, Fall River, Miss Z. D. Smith, Boston, Gen. Sec. Associated Charities. James F. Hill, Detroit, Society for Prevention of Cruelty MISSOURI. Hon. Robt. M. Foster, St. Louis, Hon. James L. Blair, St. Louis, MINNESOTA. James F. Jackson, Minneapolis, Floyd M. Smith, Omaha, G. W. Clark, Omaha, Supt. Child Saving Institute. NEW JERSEY. Hugh F. Fox, Plainfield, Pres. Board of Children's Guardiana. NEW YORK. Hon. Willard H. Olmsted, New York. Hon. Julius M. Mayer, New York, E. Fellows Jenkins, New York, Saint Vincent De Paul Society. Gen. Sec. Charity Organization Society. Hon. Thos. Murphy, Buffalo, Frederick Almy, Buffalo, Sec. Charity Organization Society. Hon. Homer Folks, New York, Commissioner Public Charities. OHIO. Hon. T. E. Callaghan, Cleveland. Mayor City of Toledo. Sec. Associated Charities. C. M. Hubbard, Cincinnati, Gen. Sec. Associated Charities, PENNSYLVANIA. Hon. Judge Bergy, Philadelphia. Hon. Marshall Brown, Pittsburg. WASHINGTON. H. Wirt Steele, Seattle, Gen. Sec. Charity Organization Basisty. WISCONSIN. Hon. N. B. Neelen, Milwaukee, G. Frellson, Milwaukee, Agent Associated Charities. RHODE ISLAND. Miss M. K. Conyngton, Providence Miss M. F. Battle, Nashville, TEXAS. Miss F. Saylor, Dallas. J. J. Kelso, Toronto, OBJECTS of THE JUVENILE COURT RECORD The object of the JUVENILE COURT RECORD is to disseminate the principles of the Juvenile Court throughout the United States and, in fact, the entire world. When the Juvenile Court was first established a little more than four years ago, the sociologists of the entire country stood by, watching anxiously the outcome of this new departure in child-saving methods. It was realized that a medium was needed whereby the results accomplished by the Juvenile Court might be set forth in an intelligent manner. The JUVENILE COURT RECORD stepped into the breach, and has devoted its pages exclusively to news of the various juvenile courts. As a result of the publicity thus given to the foundation principles and routine work of the Cook County Juvenile Court, fifteen other states have passed juvenile court laws, and bills are being prepared in nearly every state in the Union to be presented at the next session of the Legislatures of the various states, providing for similar legislation. The foundation thought and idea of the juvenile court law is that children should be kept in the home to the greatest extent possible. The child's own home is preferred by the Court, but in lieu of that it is intended that any good home where proper care and training will be given, shall be provided for the child. The State, in assuming its relationship as the guardian of the rights of the child, assumes a serious responsibility. Every child has a right to education and physical care. Primarily, this duty lies with the parents. This obligation should be enforced wherever possible. The family is the unit of society, and most of the evils of society arise from demoralized homes. It is the duty of the State to co-operate with the family as long as possible, and help hold it up. If, however, for any reason the family fails, then a new home is necessary until such time as the family may again be brought together. If the family proves recreant and abdicates its functions altogether, it is the duty of the State to secure as nearly normal conditions for the children under its care and custody as may be in its power. The home is the normal place for a child's education and training. The Institution should be only a temporary station on the road from a ruined home to a permanent home with foster parents. The fact that children are to be placed in homes presupposes the idea that some agency will be at hand to find a childless home for a homeless child. To the limit of its resources the JUVENILE COURT RECORD assists in finding homes for the homeless, helpless little waifs drifting about the country. These little unfortunates need an advocate, and the JUVENILE COURT RECORD acts in this capacity, standing side by side with them, pointing the way to a brighter, happier life, where the weeds of evil will be choked out of existence and the flowers of hope will bloom in their place. Secretary Shaw has a habit of saying things every little while that set his countrymen and country women thinking hard. The characteristic is not a new one with him, nor has it developed since he went to live in Washington. When he was governor of Iowa he had a way of making public announcements that started debating societies going at full speed all over the country. But he has never made any statement of quite such general and vital interest as he did the other day in Washington when he spoke before a large number of women on the subject of "Boys." The feature of this address that has caught the ear of a great many fathers and mothers was the sentence: "There is no place for the boy," followed up with this explanation: "I think that most of us who have been boys and those of us who have watched the boy will have found and recognized that he is, all things considered, the most valuable thing on this earth. VALUE OF THE BOY. "The boy is worth more than any other creature that treads the earth, yet far more than any other thing in the world, I think there is less place for him. Now don't misunderstand me. He is less welcome anywhere than others; there are less kind words for him than anybody else. I am not saying that the lad measures up to the standard of the girl's life. I will grant you that we are raising a very much better type of young women than we are young men. But we are none the less interested in the young men, none the less interested in the boy. "From morning to night it is 'stop it' and 'don't do this' and 'don't do that' and 'don't come in here with your muddy feet.' "He never sees much of his father. The father is gone in the morning and the boy is in bed when father comes home, and all he sees are other boys and some most excellent and very competent women teachers. But you can not rear a man without bringing the boy in contact with man. That is what the family is for. That this boy should be brought into the world and just left to the mother to rear is the darkest error. He must come in contact with both his father and mother." JUDGE DUNNE'S IDEAS. Judge Edward F. Dunne, when asked "What is the boy's place in the home?" said: "To me the answer seems simple. Any place at home is the boy's place, so long as he is at home. Give him any place in the establishment congenial to his tastes, but see that he remains at home as much as possible. If he studies, give him the softest Secretary of the Treasury. seat in the house. If he is athletic, give him bats and balls, the punching bag and boxing gloves, but encourage his athletic exercise in the house, the barn or the adjoining lots. If he discloses a leaning toward any special science, art or craft, encourage it, and. so far as you can afford it, give him the appliances, books or mechanism necessary for its development. MAKE HOME ATTRACTIVE. "But install them in your home and keep him home as much as possible. Has he a penchant for billiards? Get him a table, even if it be a miniature one. The more hours each day your son spends at home the more and the sooner he develops a clean, healthy social temperament. "Encourage him to invite clean, manly boys of about his own age to his home, and let him return such calls. Spend as much time with your sons at home as business will permit; enter into their studies, their play, their thoughts, interests and ambitions. Take them out with you as often as possible. Encourage an intimacy with them. Make them your companions as well as your sons, as far as practicable. "From 1 to 5 years old the boy differs little in domestic economy from the girl. He is a cherub to be fondled and trundled and kissed. From 5 to 10 he becomes noisy, turbulent and destructive. with splendid appetite and vigorous digestion. The best treatment during this period is plain corduroy or never-rip clothes, heavy shoes, spring-lock doors, easily opened from the inside, and ever ready sandwiches and doughnuts. Never bar his egress from the house; it's a waste of time. He won't go far-his appetite won't let him. The spring lock, however, gives you a chance to look over his muddy boots before they strike the rugs or carpets. THE FIRESIDE CONFERENCE. "Between 10 and 15 years your son needs special care and attention During this period he begins to show his natural bent or inclination toward industry or idleness, manliness or effeminacy, integrity or moral weakness. If he is strong and healthy. keep him steadily at school. Give him plenty of time for physica! exercise in the daylight, but see that he is at home after dinner. Between dinner and bedtime the boy of this age, if he is a healthy minded lad, can employ himself at home most profitably and enjoyably. His mental labor at school has been relieved by the physical labor of after school sports and games. He has digested his dinner, and physical relaxation is both healthful and pleasing. An hour over his lessons for the succeeding day leaves him another hour before he need go to bed. "This hour should be regarded by both parents and children as sacred and devoted to the family altar. Mother, father, daughter and son should for that hour become comrades. A boy of 15 who spends from dinner to the hour for sleep among his own people in this way will never go wrong. "From 15 to 20 comes the first breaking of the family ties, when "WHATS THE USE the answer to this question, 'Where is the boy's place at home?' is most frequently answered by the boy. If his parents are of poor or moderate means he goes to work. If they have ample means he goes to college or the university-and sometimes to the devil. If, however, he be a boy of manly instinct and honest heart, wherever his province may be, his 'place at home' is always, in spirit at least, at the side of his mother and sisters. "Be he in the workshop, the factory, the mill, the college or the university, his place is in his mother's heart and at the family fireside. If in the years he has passed before leaving home he has been made his father's friend and companion, he still remains that friend and companion in spirit, and will on meeting him do as two boys I know-one of 16 and the other of 13-kiss that father and murmur in their slumber, "There's no place like home.'" Professor Graham Taylor of Chicago Commons, |