308 FAMOUS LIVING AMERICANS evil habits. But how was this to be done? The answer was a very simple one, to the judge's mind. He would depart from the routine businesslike methods of the old system and try to find out in each individual case what would be required to meet the needs of the offender and set the reformatory in- fluences to work. This could not be done by any set rule. It would require a rare combination of qualities in him who at- tempted it. Tact, sympathy with youth, gentleness, sagaoily and a deep insight into human nature, especially as it appears in boys, all of these would be required. Certain things appeared to be self-evident to Judge land- sey after only a brief experience. One was that most boys who make a bad beginning do so because of evil influences, chief among which are heredity and unfavorable environ- ment, not because they are of natural bom criminal types. Another fact was that boys associate in ^ ^ gangs ' ' just as men do in organizations. Still another is that all boys hate the one who will * * tell * * on the other fellow. There is no forgive- ness for him by the remainder of the **gang,'^ if he has
- told upon them or any of their members. Every human
being has some good in him. Underneath the evil nature and the disposition of the bad boy to lie, or to steal, or to break the law in any other way, there is the latent possibility for good if it can only be reached and developed. It was also noticed that when a boy was brought into court he was either in a sullen and defiant mood, or was frightened and terror- stricken. Keeping these ideas well in mind Judge Lindsey began his new way of treating juvenile delinquents. He does not sit upon the bench in dignified and judicial fashion when a boy's case comes up for consideration. He will come down to a level with the boy in this as well as in all other matters. He will sit down by the side of him if necessary on a camp chair, and use the familiar slang of the street urchin in an effort to reach the boy and have him tell the truth about his own case. The terror-stricken boy is made to feel that the judge is not there primarily to inflict punishment and that he will get a square deal and have a chance to overcome his weaknesses
