Morning journal and courier., 1893-03-29
BoYs, CLUBS or ruE srATE.

ivy az TWILL oo3 Dlalf DullQ1DR, Oh orange
street, where Mr.. John O. Eastman, the
secretary, has charge. Mr.. Eastman, in
ais annual report, addressed to the mem
oers of the Connecticut Committee Work |
for Boys, said:
"The system devised by Rev. ]. O. Col |
Inns of New Haven is simple and entirely |
practical for this purpose, and go started |
out to put it into operation in the cities of |
Connecticut.
At first there were many difficulties to
be met and overcome, as ignorance of the
work, doubt Of its efficiency, and local
pride. It was said that ''such club could
not be started in our town"-'It wonld
not work here''-"Why do not our local
societies do this worka" To all of these
objections I was able to reply that, in my
experience Of mission work, had tested
every one of the principles involved in Mr..
Collins system and could guarantee sue
cess.
BY persistent effort funds were secured
for opening the first club at Bridgeport
January 81, 1883, when we enrolled 107
boys the first night.
There has been slight decrease in the
number of clubs under our care during
the year as follows: One, village club,
was given up on account of attendance,
another was changed into young mems
reading room, and the chief supporters of
third desired to transfer their interest to
another locality. We have, however, a
very promising village club at Saybrook,
as will be seen by the report of its secre-
tary.
The existing cluba, I am happy to say,
have made steady and very satisfactory
progress and are far stronger than they
were year ago.
Starting with the Bridgeport club,
which is the oldest, we find very large
room, capable of seating from $50 to 800
boys at tables and reading desks, and of
accommodating more than twice that num-
Der on occasions of public gatherings,
when the tables are pushed aside. The
average attendance, not including enter
tainments, is from 200 to $50 boys per
night, and its active membership numbers
1,240 boys.
This club has hosts of friends, and is
favored with many fine entertainments
given gratuitously by the various musical
societies of the city aided by some of the
best literary talent.
They have building fund of $1,000, to
oA0klAO4A5 oAO UOAbS AAoOC IkOW year
to year.
MERIDRN.
The Meriden club has fve-yesr lease of
a building designed for it's use, containing
besides the main hall or club room a par
lor nicely furnished, a class room with
blackboard, room designed for a bath
room, and upper rooms that can be used
| as dormitory if needed. Glasses in his.
tory, arithmetic and penmanship are held
This club was the first to adopt the pen
ny savings bank system devised by MI
Collins. 1t has 313 depositors who have
deposited over 81, 40; considerable por
ton of this sum was afterwards placed by
the boys in the Meriden Savings bank, al
We encourage them as soon as they have
saved 50 to place it in the larger bank II
their own names. Boys wishing to draw
from the club bank can do so by giving
weeks notice, and we have reason to be
| lieve that most Of the money Withdrawn
has been well expended.
An interesting service of gong is held OF
Sunday afternoons for such of the boys a.
care to attend.
Another very interesting feature of thi
work is the corps of helpers composed o
members, or former members, who assis
the superintendent in many ways, an,
thus make an acceptable return for tn
benefits they themselves received.
NORWICH.
The Norwich club is doing quiet bu
valuable work, having an active member
chip of 1913 boys and an attendance vary
ing from go to IS per night. For severe
weeks during the fall the daily ayerag
was IS.
WATERBURY.
Waterbury has with one exception tn
largest membership, there being 1,15
active members.
1t now has gymnasium as fully SUI
piled as the very limited space will pei
NIT, and under the care of competent d.
rector. The classes in writing, DRAWN
and English branches are doing well, an
the boys show great interest and are max
ing very creditable progress.
The dormitory started year ago an
has been enlarged, but is at times unabl
to accommodate all worthy applicants fo
lodgings. Only specially needy boys al
admitted, and they are not kept longe
than is absolutely necessary.
Frequently boys come in who have sleI
in box cars, haystacks or barns. They al
, dirty and in rags and apt to be covere
| with vermin. Each new conner must sut
NIT to a thorough bath, after which hi
soiled clothing is burned and new SUI
: provided, and he Is given a nice clean be
for the night. In return for their lodgin
the boys take care of the club T rom, swee
or scrub floors, make beds and was
dishes.
Some of the smaller boys have bee
taught to cane-seat chairs and are able
earn as high as $5 per week, besides a
tending public school.
STANFORD.
The superintendent writes: 'The wor
done by the boys in the drawing class
very oreditabls indeed" He has bee
quite successful In caring for boys in til
, police court, and of late there have been &
very few boys brought up for trial that a
officer congratulated him upon his success
with the boys of the city.
DANBURY.
Danbury has a small club and suffel
some from lack of means. There is Il,
name society of about 900 members, /
which great interest Is taken.
M1DDLETowN.
| This club was started upon a very ec
| nomical basis, the superintendent bei1
| employed only part of his time. In q
i dition to the club hours he was not 9:
| peeted to spend more than six hours
| week, or about an hour q day, in the wor
| and the club season was shorter than tn
/ of others.
Several changes were made in superb
/ tepdents; but Notwithstanding all the
| drawbacks, it made fair progress until Il
| beginning of 1899, when 1t was decided
i engage competent man to devote his 9
| tire time to the work during the usual 81,
H season of nine months. Since January 2
| 1892. the aggregate attendance has be-
! 5O3; number of boys reading, 1 200; DO
i washing face and hands, 600; Joined trai
i ing classes, 40.
Il know of nothing that has better del
onstrated the value and adaptability
Il our system of work for boys to the nee
of small communities than the remarkal
success of the club at Rockville. AlIhouI
started later it has met with the popul
|. favor, especially in the line of manr
l training. A wealthy citizen has offer
D the sum of $15, 900 for q building, q
II steps are being taken to secure q suital
i lot for the building.
III NEW BRITAIN.