382 



The Review of Reviews. 



October 1, 1906. 



HOW A JUDGE REFORMS DRUNKARDS. 



The Arena contains a sketch of '' Judge William 

 Jefiferson Pollard, a practical idealist/' by Mr. B. O. 

 Flower. Mr. Pollard's family was ruined by tlie 

 Civil 'W^ar. He started work as a messenger boy in 

 a telegraph office, then became proprietor of a 

 grocery- store, finally studied law and became an at- 

 torney. He is now Judge in the Second District 

 Court of St. Louis. He uses his position on the 

 Bench to promote temperance in a novel way : — 



When the drunkard who is not a confirmed toper is ar- 

 raigned and the case heard, the Judge imposes a heavy 

 line whicl) will necessitate sixty days in the workhouse, 

 breaking stone. This sentence, however, is held in suspense 

 if the guilty party will sign a pledge which he has framed, 

 to abstain from drink for one year. 



This is the pledge: — 



SECOND DISTRICT POLICE COURT. 



CITY OF ST. LOUIS. MO. 



Wm. Jeff. Pollard, Judge. 



Charge Charge 



As evidence of my appreciation of the oppor- 

 tunity given me by the Judge of the above- 

 named Court to become a sober and better 

 citizen, in staying the fine imposed upon me 

 this day. I hereby freely and voluntarily sign 

 the following 



PLEDGE. 



I will abstain from the use of intoxicating 

 liquors of every kind and character for the 



period of from date 



day of 190— 



•KEEP SOBEE, OE GO TO GAOL. 



This is the Judge's own way of describing his 

 action : — 



" In giving a defendant an opportunity to sign the pledge 

 1 always impose a suitable fine for his offence. I let him 

 off on his promise of good behaviour, with the distinct 

 understanding that if he drinks again he will have to go 

 to the workhouse. The man who knows he is going to be 

 sent to the rock-pile for getting drunk will keep out of 

 reach of temptation. I have learned by observation that 

 after they have kept sober for a month they have very 

 little trouble. It is during the first month after giving 

 them the pledge that I have to keep a sharp look-out over 

 "them. They must report to me regularly every week either 

 at the court or at m.v home. If he is a married man I 

 require him to bring his wife with him." 



The Judge has carried on these methods for 

 three years, and up to the present time not more 

 than two persons in one hundred thus put on their 

 honour have fallen. 



JOHN BULL BEATING UNCLE SAM IN COLOMBIA. 



In a recent number of the American Review of 



Reviews, F. P. Savinien, writing on the new era in 



Colombia, says: — 



In Colombian trade, the Americans are outdone by Euro- 

 peans. At Cucuta, where they are strongest, Germans tran- 

 sact several per cent more business ihan they; and at 

 Barranquilla. where they are weakest, the English transact 

 300 per cent. more. Wliere a fair average is struck — at 

 ■Cartagena, for example— they just hold their own with Ger- 

 mans and French, but do only 50 per cent, as much as 

 the English. Controlling 30 per cent, of the foreign trade 

 of Cucuta, 20 per cent, of that at Cartagena, and 14 per 

 <-ent. at Barranquilla, they show, by accomplishing least 

 where the competition is greatest, that they lack only 

 initiative to improve their position, American business 

 •men could easily become predominant. 



SOCIAL EFFORT BY FRENCH CATHOLICS. 



The Dublin Review contains an interesting sketch 

 of Catholic Socialist effort in France. It begins by 

 expressing the hope that with the severance of 

 Church from State will come a complete fusion of 

 the Catholic elements hitherto kept apart by State 

 barriers. The ecclesiastical functionaries now take 

 their place along with the other Catholic organisa- 

 tions which have been outside the Concordat. The 

 writer insists on the comparative unimportance of 

 politics in France, a fact ignored by this country 

 generally, and seeks to show that in spite of political 

 defeat the French clergy are beginning to throw 

 themselves into the current of the best national life, 

 and are thus in a fair way to regain their waning 

 influence. The most hopeful symptom is found in 

 the growing enthusiasm for social work among young 

 Catholic laymen. 



The Catholic Association of French youth, found- 

 ed in 1 886 by Count Albert de Mun, now numbers 

 some 1500 groups and 70,000 members. Its object 

 is to co-operate in the re-establishment of the 

 Christian social order. Its principles are submis- 

 sion to the authority of the Church, and perfect ad- 

 hesion to her teachings, especially in all matters 

 connected with the social and economic order. Its 

 methods are Christian devotion and mutual study 

 and support among its members. Its tone has be- 

 come increasingly democratic and frankly republican 

 — 35 per cent, of its members come from the com- 

 mercial and industrial, and 45 from the agricultural 

 classes. 



They have formed an immense number of "' circles 

 of studv." There are general congresses and local 

 congresses, some of which are attended by two or 

 three thousand people, and an incredible number 

 of conferences, lectures and pilgrimages. It not 

 merely studies and speaks, but devotes its attention 

 to the founding of co-operative societies, popular 

 libraries, labour bureaus, workmen's gardens, and 

 the like all over the country. Popular institutes or 

 clubs ase founded and maintained by the members. 

 This social movement has in many cases resulted in 

 the complete transformation of a parish, and has 

 proved an important instrimient of Christian re- 

 generation. The wTiter urges the wisdom of Eng- 

 lish Catholics following in the footsteps of their 

 French brethren, and in especial in forming the 

 " circles of studv." 



The Sunday Strand for August contains an illus- 

 trated sketch of the Countess of Aberdeen's work 

 for women in the Upward and Onward Association, 

 bv Mr. A'.e.xander Gammie. York Hopewell illus- 

 trates the fairv scenes of Britain with some beautiful 

 photographs. Another paper is by Percy Collins 

 on clever plants and prudent flowers, such as "Venus' 

 fly-trap, sensitive plant, teasel, tobacco and water- 

 lilies. 



