Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-02-04
CITY AND DISTRICT.
CAIRNS: FOR STREET ARABS.
In En'erp-i.c which fga- Been started
ia shis Cisy-Sssncihiny About its
Aims and Objects.

''Our object in forming n permanent 0rganza-
ton in behalf Of the newsboys and the waits of
the streets. said one of the lady members Of
the recently organized NewsbOys Aid Asscca-
ton TO q STAR reporter 'is 10 see If we can't do
something 70 improve their moral and iGtellec-
tual condition. We don't Know anything about
them Row. or what their needs may be. We
are Therefore in the dark "a To the best means
tina: ought to be adopted to result in any bene-
tit TO them The entertainment that was re-
Gently given at the Temple Cafe was merely
an experiment. We thought that we would
give the boys some entertainment We invited
two hundred bat four hundred came. but in
spite of that we got along very nicely. and the
boys appeared to enjoy themselves. l think
that they behaved very we'll indeed. l know
that one of the ladies thought that they made too
much EOisP. IL lid not seem 30 To me. and | am
sure that they would have heen.s strange kind OF
boys ii they had been quiet"
we thought" continued the speaker. ''of
having an entertainment of this kind about
once q month. and in this way become ac-
guainted with the boys their habits OF life, and
their homes. and then we could determine bet
ter what would be the best method of doing
them good. or course we would have TO have
Refreshments Of some sort to induce them TO
come. Then we could have a program OF q
light AMI interesting character and perhaps
some speeches. IL is not the intention to have
religious REVEALS among these boys. Wewould
ike to have them become Christians but in
order that they may lead better lives il Is neces-
sary first 20 improve their material condition If
possible. The fact OF the matter is that no plan
has been determined upon as vet, and these en-
tertainmentS are simply tentative to try to as
certain what the condition of the boys is and
what their needs are. OF course we can see
the possibility of doing n great deal Of good
But think that il We succeed in doing nothing
else but bringing them in contact even once a
month with the ladies who are interested in this
work it will have q beneficial effect. The ladies',
as you know. represent all the denomina-
tons in the city. and at our last
entertainment each lady had charge during
the evening of certain number of boys,
and saw that they We're provided with food and
behaved properly. Perhaps large proportion
of boys never knew mothers love and care,
and seldom lave kind word spoken to them.
Ii is probable that they have only been aecus-
toned 70 the rudest way of living. and glimpse
even of the refinement and genteness which
obtains among cultivated people would have, in
my opinion. an elevating Influence"
What has been suggested as the outcome of
this movement asked the reporter
We'll" was the reply, I'VE have thought that
if there 4 Eecd Tor such an institution. the
way might be- Opeaed up for the establishment
of "a kind of headquarters for these boys where
there would be- reading rooms and, perhaps,
baths and a dining hail. When we have made
the acquaintance OF tine boys aud found out
how they live. then il will be time enough to
determine upon q plan OF action for the future
At the entertainments the ladies could get the
addresses OF the boys and. perhaps, visit them
individually. From their reports a very good
idea could be obtained OF their condition. and
then. if it was thought best, a building could be
secured AMI some plan Of organization and
work could ~ devised OF course this is mere
suppositiOn. and the movement may not extend
beyond the limits of general entertainment
similar 10 the one We have just given. But 1t
for doing 3 great deal of good aud that too, in
a field which has, 50 far. been neglected in this
city Ii is not the intention to cOniine the work
to the news6oyS alone. but also include the
bootbacSs and other boys who are compelled to
shit Tor themselves on I'M. strnntS :"