Page:Upbuilders by Lincoln Steffens.djvu/130



That the man has this more general 1 significance is shown by the gradual, apparently jLcqidental way in which he developed his “methods’'" imd his Court. He didn’t think them out with his mind, That isn’t the way big, human things are done in this big, human world of ours; they are felt out with the heart. The man Lindsey had heart, and the cave-dweller’s cry reached it, and when the Judge felt her agony, he found himself. That was all. His judgment in this case was but the beginning of Judge Lindsey’s practice of putting heart into his business. He didn’t know what probation was when he said he’d take care himself of the cave-dweller’s boy. We have seen that he hadn’t thought of being a judge, and the idea of a Juvenile Court hadn’t dawned upon him. It took other cases to “set him thinking.” The other cases came.

One day a “burglary” appeared on his calendar. The Judge says he looked around curiously for the burglars. He saw none till the case was called. Then three boys were haled whimpering before him, three ordinary, healthy American boys, from twelve to sixteen. What had they burglarized? A pigeon-loft. A pigeon-loft! Yes, your Honour, they broke into a pigeon-loft and were caught red-handed stealing pigeons. That was burglary; there was no doubt about the crime.