St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-11-09
SAINT PAUL.
ELEVATiNG WHILE AMUSING.
The Good Work Being Done by
the NeWSboys' Home.


To the late Charles T. Corning is due the
credit Of having established the Newsboys'
Home association 10 care for and elevate the
street boys of ST. Paul. MIR. Corning's work
began as early as January, 1887, when an
assembly room for boys was opened at his
expense OF East Seventh street, under the
able management Of Miss Grace Johnston.
Some months after the beginning of Mr..
Conng's efforts, other Gentlemen came 10
his financial assistance, and the Newsboys'
HON association was formally organized.
About year afterwards however the
association sustained an incaleulable
loss III the death of Mr.. Corn
ing, Il loss which we'll nigh terminated
lis existence The board of directors, how
ever. were reluctant 10 abandon the work
which seemed SO nearly established on al
enduring basis. and accordingly a home for
boys was opened NJ the corner of Robert and
Eleventh streets, and reverently called the
Corning h me. Miss Grace Johnston was in
stalled as manager, boys soon filled the home
10 its utmost capacity, the charitable public
generously subscribed for its maintenance,
and the Corning Home became an established
success. The home opened in April, 1883,
and here Miss Johnston labored unremit
tngly until October 1890. when for certain
reasons l. was deemed eXpedicnt TO temper
arily close The home ana 10 open an assembly
room instead.
During the continuance of the Corning
Home 7.232 meals and 1885 lodgings
were furnished 10 poor bows, at the schedule
rate of twenty-five cents per day. From this
source alone S., 5SS were placed in the treas
ury of the association. The home furnished
three meals per day, lodgings. baths, games,
books and every comfort necessary for a
home.
me following extract is taken from Miss
Johnstons report 10 the association i'll Sep
TENDER last: The home compelled the BOYS
TO be Clearly in body, habit and speech, to be
hon, ~ -
evening. except Monday allowed for
theaters) and TO be decent in every way pos
Slble. We tried 10 inculcate good habits,
honesty, sobriety. industry and a proper re-
gard for The rights of others. The boys
showed kindly feelings for each other and
the harmony that usually prevailed i'll the
family life was remarkable.
The impression seems 10 prevail in GER
tain quarters that very few of the home boys
were good boys or had any redeeming quail
tiles. Street life does not foster good quail
ties and many of the boys have sad heritage
of bad tendencies, which their neglected,
homeless youth has foStered and increased;
OF Ill the boys who came under my charge
not one of them was wholly bad: somewhere
was redceming quality, often q rare and
noble trait, which under happier clrcum-
stances might have developed into The leaven
that would have IeaVened the whole lump.
But their will 10 resist was weak. and OH
every hand were temptations ana wicked
friends.
with The scathing fire of my remarks on his
bad behavior. i'll Il voice choked with emo
ton replied that He did the best he could
according 10 his disposition l feel that it is
so with many OF these boys, and perhaps TO
them at the great Judgment day may be eX-
tended a leniency 10 which we may be
strangers. Ii would seem that many require
compelling force to keep them straight
and many are likely 10 get tin The state re-
formatory, hard school to learn III, with a
diploma that bears the convict's stamp"
In the work of the association the board of
directors have done much. but Miss John
ston. as manager of the home has done more
and her services have been invaluable Many
situations were procured for the boys. Some
DoVs, OF course. lost Their situations by negli-
gence and Indifference but some have seized
the opportunity, have gained the confidence
of their employers auG now obtain good sal
aries: one boy in particular earns $50 per
month and supports his mother and young
brother. One interesting feature of the work
was with runaway boys sons Of eminentlv
respectable ana substantial parents whom
Miss johnson induced to return to their
homes: and letters received from grateful.
Warm-bearted mothers amply attest the
great value they place upon The association.
But the work has its dark side as well. and
Il is sad sight to see young boys,
handcutfed, led from Ithe prison van to the
police court. By the direct appeal of the as
ISOLATION the judges have in many cases hui
namely released the young culprits with
severe reprmand; but also many, far too
many boys are now The inmates of our state
retolmatory, serving sentences for crimes
which were the direct result of drink We
have police and detectives 10 arrest law
breakers, but should there not be power of
the law to prevent the offense? In direct de-
lance OF existing laws minors go into saloons
To drink. to gamble, and 10 copy every vice
city can show. Much of this preamble that
formulates wicked resolves could be pre-
vented, If the city possessed special officer
whose sole duty should be 10 ferret out such
places and see that they are closed up. Every
Eastern city of any size and importance has
at least one such officer New York has
seyera(, and st. Paul should also have one
without delay. a special officer, working in
harmony with the general police and APP
pointed TO look after the boys and keep them
out OF saloons and gambling holes, would do
more to rid the city Of causes of crime than
al the phIlanthropic people of St Paul put
together.
AS mentioned before, the association has
temporarily closed the Corning Home and is
located IN the half basement of the chamber
of commerce. under the able management of
Miss Johnston and Miss Rankin Here we
have two large. fine rooms lighted by gas,
heated by steam, nicely papered and kalso-
mined. neat and comfortable where the boys
can spend pleasant evenings, reading. talk
ing or playing games, with some of
the good ladies who volunteered
their services for stated evenings
stereopticon shows etc. in this room during
the winter. Also r. d. Youngman has kindly
offered 10 conduct military drill once a
week for the boys; and other features for the
boys are being prepared by the committee in
charge. In the other room Mr. Rogers, super
inIendent of the work shop at the manual
training school, has volunteered his services
and conducts n manual training school for
the boys which promises to be very satisfac-
tory. The association desires 10 here thank
Nathan Ford for the fine piano placed in the
rooms; j. j. Dunnigan for presenting a re-
ceipted bill for plumbing work, and other
friends for many favors shown III the past
The association heartily invites the CO.
operation of any and all persons interested
in the work to come forward and assist in
the good work. Also we invite the public to
use the employment bureau of the associa-
ton. Several strong, bright boys are seeking
situations, aud the secretary will be glad to
send the boys to those needing q boy. II is a
good opportunity 10 aid boys seeking to ad-
vance themselves in the world.
Let 10 one imagine that our only aim is to
amuse and instruct the boys. The assembly
rooms are simply means to an end. We
endeavor TO elevate the boys to instruct
them and to instill higher ideals of manhood
into their young hearts, nobler and better
aims III life. and worthy ambition to be-
come useful, respectable members OF the
community. Our successful efforts In the
past encourage US fer the future and we
earnestly ask continuance of public inter-
est and sympathy in the good work
w. E. HOWARD, Secretary,
PERSONAL AND SOCIAL.
c. s. GARRISON, of East Fifth street,left Fri