The Opelousas journal. [volume] (Opelousas, La.) 1868-1878, 1875-02-19
A Good way to Save Boys from
Ruin.
Communicated in the N. Y. Sun

communicated III tHO ~ Il. sun.
l happened to be in Salem, Mass, dur
ing Thanksgiving week, and was in
vited by a young lady to attend a meet
ing of what is called "The Fraternity"
where | passed one of the most pleasant
evenings of the year. This unpreten-
tious institution invites the boys of the
streets, in their rags even, to come to
its well-lighted and comfortable rooms
to talk, to play at games, to listen to
music, to read, and, if they choose, to be
otherwise instructed. The main room
in this stablishmentisdevOte t oamuse-
ments, and is fitted up like q restaurant,
with small tables and four chairs or
stools to each table. At the end of the
room opposite the entrance is a piano,
which is occasionally played during the
evening, and often accompanied with
singing.
At the entrance of the room there is
a dais, on which sits the lady directress
Of the room, who acts as orderly and
gives out the articles for amusement,
such as checkers, dOminOes, puzzles, &c,
all gambling games being prohibited.
The visitors come in sometimes singly,
sometimes in parties, and either sit and
converse, watch others play, or play
themselves. AS soon as a party is form
ed it applies to and receives from the
directress whatever it may require for
the game it proposes to play. AdjOin-
ing this is a reading room, where
daily and weekly papers, magazines,
e~ngravings, &c, are kept; and connect
ed with this is a public library contain
ing about 1900 volumes, which is at the
disposal of the visitors. Still another
room is devoted to such as desire to be
instructed in the rudiments of educa-
ton, or even in more advanced studies.
Once a week an amusing or instructive
lecture suited to the tastes and caDaci-
ties of the boys is given. Two or three
gentlemen, assisted by q corps Ofladies,
have thus far in tt.rn given their gra-
tuitOus attention to the institution, one
or two gentlemen and two or three ladies
attending each evening. The boys are
not held in duress for a moment. They
come in when they please and go out
when they are tired, without even ask
ing permission. They talk, play, read,
look at pictures, OF study as they feel
disposed. All that is required of them
is to behave themselves as much like
gentlemen as they know how.
Although the evening visitors vary
from two hundred to six hundred, it is
rare that any boy has to be sent away
OA 0SLOuuU OA AAloOVlIuuCbs CUuIOGlIDcS
there is unwOnted excitement over a
game, but usually a few persuasive
words from the directress calms the
storm and all is quiet again. These out
breaks are, however, ~infreguept, The
humanizing effect of thus holding boys
together without any restraint but that
of their own comfort and enjoyment
eel truly wonderful, as shown in their
improving cleanliness, tidiness, and
self respect. The library and reading
room are well patronized, and out of
the large number of books which have
been taken out of the library by the
boys not more than a half dozen are be-
lieved to have been finally lost, although
III other pledge is exacted for their re-
turn than the lame and residence of the
individuals receiving the books. The
expense Of the institution thus far has
not much exceeded $1,000 a year, in
GLIDING rent; lights, fuel, binding of
books, a janitOr and incidentals. The
library, newspapers, magazines, &C.,
have been contributed. The privileges
of the library have been extended to
girls, and it has been suggested that an
amusement room should also be pro-
yided for them.