[Sidenote: Extreme Cases]
Paul Thompson and Stephen Longman lived in a rapidly growing frontier
town in the West. They had the name of being reckless boys, and all
through their school days had caused more or less trouble to their
teachers and classmates. The boys especially disliked Mr. Black, the
teacher who had charge of the assembly study room. He was strict in his
requirements and very severe in reprimands, and these boys had frequent
occasions to feel the force of both. One evening when Mr. Black was
scheduled to give a lecture to the school, Stephen said to Paul, “Let’s
stiffen up Blackie’s backbone a bit, he’s too limp.”
“What d’yer mean?” questioned Paul.
“When he gets well to going tonight, you go to one door of the assembly
room and yell ‘Fire!’ at the top of your voice and I’ll go to the other
and do the same. Let’s see how long he’ll keep his dignity.”
The program was carried out to the letter. Suddenly, in the midst of the
lecture, rang out the cry, “Fire! Fire!”
The frightened students rose in a body and rushed for the door. In vain
Mr. Black tried to control their movements. His voice was drowned in the
uproar. In the desperate scramble for the doors that followed, many were
injured, one or two so seriously as to require hospital treatment.
Several others fainted. All were shocked and, of course, the meeting was
broken up. It was soon discovered that the whole thing was a joke, but
the harm was done. It could not be undone.
“There is only one thing more I can do for you, boys,” said the
principal, as he talked with them in his office the next day. “Your
offense is so serious that it is necessary to turn you over to the
courts. I am going to make one more effort to help you, however, in the
hope that it may save you from a term in the Reformatory. I have asked
the judge to pronounce your sentence, then place you on probation, thus
allowing you to finish your school course. Your only alternative is to
be given over unreservedly to the courts. Which do you prefer?”
“We prefer to stay here. We never meant that all those people should get
hurt, Mr. Wells,” said Stephen. “We just thought we’d scare them a
little.”
“We will go now over to the court house. I have already arranged with
Judge Sinclair to meet you there.”
Judge Sinclair listened to the boys’ story with great seriousness, and
after pointing out to them the legal aspects of their misdemeanor, said,
“As a special favor to your principal, with whom I have already
conferred, I shall give you one more chance. I have appointed Professor
Black your probation officer, with absolute authority over you.
“The court decides that you shall discipline yourself by submitting
implicity to the commands of others, and it is only through this severe
discipline that you will become men. The probation I shall order is not
going to be for your pleasure. You will submit to rough fare and to all
the privation and discipline of prison without going to prison. You will
be punished with hard work and regular living until you grow to like
it.”
The probation was to be considered broken if the boys:
Used liquors or tobacco in any form.
Entered a poolroom or saloon.
Disobeyed the probation officer.
Attended a movie, or went out nights without the probation
officer’s consent.
The officer was enjoined to see that the boys worked hard in school and
made all their grades. They must stay at home evenings and conduct
themselves quietly at all times. They were recommended to go to church
twice every Sunday.
The probation period was to continue until the court issued further
orders.
The serious consequences of their rash sport, the severity of the judge,
and the narrow escape from the reformatory, sobered the boys. They kept
their probation and graduated two years later, having won back at last
the forfeited respect of their teachers and classmates.