A matter of great importance to our Commonwealth, to cite a case--a girl of fourteen years was recently convicted of petty larceny, sentenced to prison for three months. Appeal for mercy, on the ground of first offence, did not avail. But to jail, to be influenced for a worse career, instead of a reformative effect. The courts could not be held accountable for this state of affairs. Indeed it would be hard to find anywhere a more conscientious and just judge than Judge Biddle, before whom the case came. Our Judges are not lawmakers, and must interpret the law as it exists, and follow the statutory provisions enacted by the Legislature, and there is no discretionary or limited powers. It is deplorable that offenders of tender years should not receive intelligent and discriminating treatment under the law. But the fault is in the inadequacy of the law. Pennsylvania seems to be far behind some other States in penal, and particularly in reformative legislation respecting children. In other States, notably Michigan, Iowa, Illinois, Massachusetts, legislation has been provided for juvenile and adult offenders, which has already born much fruit and promises greater results for the future. The working of the probation system in Massachusetts--where it has been in operation nine years appears to have more than justified the hopes of those who introduced the reforms. In Massachusetts more than 5,000 are released annually on probation, and the relapses to criminal life are very few. The system seems specially adapted to minors. There is every reason why Pennsylvania should take some forward step in enacting laws relating to young offenders. Where modern legislation of this character has been tried it has had very great beneficial influence in reforming offenders and saving them from a criminal life, and in addition has saved the State money. Where we were clearly shown at the last National Prison Congress, that our actual cost of crime in Philadelphia was $3.50 per capita for the whole population of the country, equal to $3,250,000 for this city it seems appalling, and we need to use the best known methods of reform to lessen the exacting taxation. THE POLICE MATRONS at our station-houses have all proved well chosen and competent helps to the distressed wife and children, and to many a young girl who has commenced a life of shame brought under their observation by the officers. The entire number of women reported by the sixteen matrons, during the fiscal year as under their charge was 4,233. Of these many were aged, demented and homeless; those lost or seeking shelter were 773. Many were young, some strangers in the city, and to city life, who were restored, by a little effort, to respectable homes; some victims of the crimes of others or shamed and discouraged by disgrace.