QUALITY OF MERCY

NZ Truth, Issue 1103, 20 January 1927, Page 4

QUALITY OF MERCY

don't send me to prison, A your worship." *- How often have th© magistrates on the bench at the Wellington Magistrate's Court listened to the pleadings of youthful female prisoners who have over-stepped the bounds of propriety or law.

How often has the bench looked towards a pleasantfaced lady m the uniform of the Sal-" vation Army, and said: "Can you do anything, Mrs. Glover?" Invariably one hears the answer, uttered hi a clear kindly .voice: "We will take her, and look after her, sir."

When the girl has stepped down from the box a motherly arm is extended to her, the while a few words or comfort are poured into her ear, and she begins to look forward to a brighter life that will help to straighten out all the moral kinks. Then there are equally pathetic cases m which elderly couples, magnifying each other's petty faults, seek : guidance of the law. Here, again, the human perception of the Court Mother is brought to bear, resulting/In most instances, m complete conciliation and better understanding. Life is all a question of perspective — preferably, the other fellow's — and Mrs. Glover possesses that blessed' sense of being able to view things from other people's points of view. Hence her success.