The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1892-11-15
An Evening With the Little
Fellows at the Peoples
Palace on Grand
Street,
THEIR DRILL AND AMBITIONS
Monday is an "Off Night" But 1t is
Interesting All the Same
Muscular Christianity,


the first anniversary of "the first edition"
OF the Tabernacle Peoples Palace was
duly celebrated on Sunday evening.
A reporter for The NEWS dropped into
the Palace last night primarily with a
view to depicting characteristic features
OF an evenings entertainments afforded
by this comparatively new phase of
church social work. Il was by no means
the best of the six 'workday" evenings
to select for such purpose. For the
work of the institution, cramped by its
present facilities, yet systematized so as
to accomplish the greatest results. is on
Monday evenings, in the interest of
the boys. Monday night" said Secre-
tary Wells, whom found at his desk in
the coZy reception parlors, sis a sort of
of night for the young men. We can
manage the boys better on that night, Il
is the drill night of the Boys Brigade.
But, mind you, the young men are ad-
m1tted just the same. Do you hear the
little fellows clamoring on the outsider
All. they're gentlemanIy set of little
fellows. but if we let them in on thefg
drill night before their captain comes
they take possession of everything. The
4La L
introduce you to him."
The Secretary and his assistant, Mr.. j,
H. Coweuhoven, and the reporter were
the only occupants OF the paror The
Assistant Secretary was busy clip
ping from stack of papers
accounts of the anniversary cele-
bration to be mailed to different
friends OF the Palace movement who live
in other parts of the country.
1t was yet early. The boys outside
were eagerly awaiting the signal to
enter. scldierly looking young man,
wearing cap and blouse OF the uniform
of the Fourth Regiment Cadets, with
epaulettes of lieutenant over the
shoulder, entered the parlor; followed by
friend in citizens clothes.
This is q reporter from THE NEWS.
Captain Christie" said Mr.. Wells ris-
ing from his desk. He wants TO see the
boys drill. Aud this is l. Lieutenaut +, A.
Ryer. of the Fourth Regiment cadets,
Captain" Christie. by the way, is yet a
lieutenant but his promotion to captaincy
of the cadets in the near future is now SO
sure that his fellow cadets all call him
captain"
THE DRILL.
The "captain" extended cordial invi.
tatlon to the reporter to see the drilling
of the Boys Brigade. He carried light
bamboo cane and walking to the main
entrance, opened the door and gave the
signal for the boys to enter. They
entered in single file and were yerv order
". There were about forty of them
With the exception OF two all were IN
knickerbockers. Each ones hair was
neatly brushed, In the majority of in
stances their shoes were freshly polished.
Mr., Wells stationed himself at the parlor
door and bade each welcome, to which
they smilingly responded as they passed
on through the hail. Near the rear one
bright little fellow, grasping the hand of
an eleven year old chum. left the line.
"Mr. Wells. here's feller wishes TO Join
the brigade. He'll be good"
Mr.. Wells welcomed the little recruit
and, leading him to the desk, read off the
pledge. The recruit promised to abstain
from the use of tobacco, from swearing.
and further promised to set good exam
pie to his playmates, and he signed the
pledge in bold hand for SUCH little
fellow.
"And are these all members OF the
Tabernacle Sunday SchoolW the reporter
asked of Mr.. Wells.
THAT is to a certain extent one of
one of the requirements; but we make an
occasional exception. If one of the
boys has friend anxious to join
the brigade who belongs TO
some other school we sometimes
take him in. But proselyting is entirely
avoided. You see, the little fellows are
getting excelent training, and it keeps
you enter the assembly room how much
interested they are in their work."
When the reporter reached the assem-
bly, room he found the entire brigade
drawn up in two military lines. Captain
Christie's voice rang out "Count
fours," and proud little fellows
with shoulders erect and glancing straight
q hRo nH rvxrn r6
One, two. three. four" Some of
the voices were coarse. others were shrill,
but all were musical and at times it
seemed as though they were trying to
master bar of music. Some of the boys
have been In training since last summer.
They are divided into two platoons,
and you just ought to see
first try to hold their places and how
eager the boys of the second are to win
their way into the first. While the
second platoon was drilling separately,
some half dozen members of the first
were critically cycling the movements of
certain leading aspirants OF the second
for position in the first.
One bright-eyed, well-dressed lad,
half head taller than his companions, sud-
denly broke out:-"Ha, now you fellows
say Garrison is not entitled to admission
in the frst. just look at him gettin' in
his fine WORK now. tell you, he's the
best drilled mansin that platoou,n and
some of his companions applauded
Meanwhile there was a steady tramp of
feet in obedience to Captain Christie's
orders: 1.-TWO flank form Company.
marchl" Column right, marchip sBy
the left flank, narchw Right forward.
fours right. marchp' and so on through
the ordinary manRuvres of the regular
q. S. tactics.
THEY CATCH ON QUICKLY.
or course some of the raw recruits
bothered and interrupted the movements
of the veterans, but Lieutenant Ryer was
near by and put the confused little fell
lows on the right track, aud 1t was aston
fshing to notice how quick they caught
on.
How do you like your drillmasterpn
the reporter asked one little veteran of
the first platoon.
''Ah. he's Jim dandyf" he replied.
1t was interesting. too. to listen to an
other discussion Of a group of members of
the first platoon. One little fellow in
light knickerbockers, with his light hair
banged, still wore Harrison badge.
Better shake that badge. Harrison
isn't in it,o said his chum.
He's in 1t till ther fourth of March,
Then goodbye, Benny, goodbye
Well, that's all right. I'm glad yer
got both ther Senate and ther House
just you wait four years more. Then
we'll sock it to you"
Then all hands became interested in
the matter of securing an extra drill
night for the first platoon.
While the first platoon wered rilling the
members of the second with their raw re
cruits. clamored about the parallel bars