A protector of the peace, a defender of the law, saw this little boy fishing in public waters. While earnestly waiting for a bite the boy was arrested. He was taken, by the policeman, to the station. He did not have any friends to give bond for him, so they locked him up and left him there all night in a cell alongside of men who were in there swearing and cursing, using the vilest of language. He was placed with hardened people whose association could not be anything but injurious to a ten-year-old boy. Next day he was brought into Police Court, accused of fishing in the lake, sentenced for violating this great and important law of the city of Chicago, and sent to the work-house, to serve a time in the city prison. This was twenty years ago, and, just such incidents as this, caused good honest-thinking people to try to introduce something that would protect and care for similar cases. Now, the boy who violates a law is not arrested and placed in jail or even a Police Station, but under the splendid Juvenile Court system the boy is brought into the presence of a judge who has an opportunity of showing what he would like to do in other courts, by extending an encouraging hand to the wayfaring boy. The boy is greeted kindly and the strange feeling, which even men and women have under similar circumstances, is removed. Instead of the judge looking sternly at the criminal, as has been too often the custom, thinking, perhaps justly, the dignity of the law requires it, he kindly explains to the boy where he has made a mistake, where he has violated some law; and after gaining the friendship and confidence of the little offender, he is placed in charge of a kind-hearted Probation Officer, who personally looks after the interests and welfare of the accused. The Juvenile Court has power to require the boy to go to school, and the boy is impressed with the fact that it is for his benefit. Truant boys are looked after by this method, and the Probation Officer goes so far as to visit the homes of the boys to learn their surroundings. This has been the means of influencing many families to take better care of their homes and to keep things in a neat and tidy condition. This has never been accomplished before by any methods of a legal nature. With the valuable work of the Juvenile Court and the Humane societies, together with the self-governing plan of the Newsboys associations, all working harmoniously, what must naturally be expected of the boy? The home is the natural environment in which to develop a boy in the direction of true, self-sustaining manhood; and it should furnish the conditions most likely to bring about the happiest results, not only to the individual and the family, but also to the State. When this fails, as it often does, the Juvenile Court steps in and the results are wonderful. CHAPTER XXXVIII.