The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-08-19
A CLUB FOR BOYS.
1t Will Be Something
Like Home.
NEWSBoYs AND MESSENGERS.
1t Will Not Be Charity but Kind
of Clubhouse of Which They
May Be Proud.

Inc prospect of a club for newsboys has
eXclted wide interest. Mrs. Lillian Plum
hett' the secretary Of the new project, was
interviewed on the subject last evening.
we want to form headquarters for
he"sooys and messenger-boys" said Mrs.
Flunkett. The public does not realize
now badly something of the kind is
needed.
There are from 200 to 1000 newsboys in
San Francisco. Many of them have home5.
where they can find shelter after work, but
we have found that very large pro por-
ton of these boys have no place that can
be called home. That is to say, the bows
have drunken parents or live on sufferance
somewhere, or are allowed to get along
anyhow. We want to give them Just a
taste of the home.
'Plans? Well. it is early yet. but we
have sketched out orr idea roughly. There
are several similar clubs in the East, and
we will have their success to pattern
upon:
central location, the upper part Ia be de-
voted TO dormitories and the lower to
clubrooms. We propose having janitor
and cook, and have already a man and
wife In thought who would fill the posi-
lions.
and cheap aud good meals. Nothing
would be expensive, but we would pot
ask the boys to accept anything free as
charity. We would want them to feel the
club was their own and take pride in it.
They would have books and papers to
read, games to play, and perhaps we could
gefgentlemen to come down and give in
structlve little talks-not sermons-On in
teresting subjects. Then we might have
monthly entertainments. The boys would
be amused, instructed, have their morals
looked after and made to feel at home-if
we could carry out our wishes.
There are so many bright boys among
the nswsboys and messenger boys" con-
tlnued this earnest secretary 1--WE have
gone among them great deal and have
met with unanimous approval of the idea.
I'VE are also meeting with much en-
couragement among the public 1t is to the
public we must look for aid to carry out
the project. Our ambition is to make the
club permanent, and for that we aim to
collect $4,000. We will most probably
incorporate soon and place ourselves on a
responsible footing We would eventually
try to secure lot and build a clubhouse,
but ut first will proceed accordn to our
finds. Ii necessary, we will start in with
two rooms and let the rest grow. Already
we have been promised q number Of SUBJ
scriptions; enough 10 begin upon.
1.-The board OF managers consists of:
President, Miss Letitia Owen; first vice.
president. Mrs. RuXa Weihe; second vice
president, Mrs. NJ. E. Carlton; secretary,
Mrs. Lillian Plunkett; treasurer, Mrs.
Florence Percy Matheson. They are all
actinue workers, who will contribute their
time and interest. Speaking for my col
leagues l may say they are all bright
women who have the project at heart. Il
is part OF our plan to have at least one
member Of the board at the club everv
night to talk 10 the boys and see that
everything is comfortable for them
ut is not proposed to give the members
of the club gala time every pight They
will have their own games and monthly en-
tertainments with occasional ''chats" by
business men, stereopticon lecture and
so on. 1t will be just club and nothing
more.
The idea originated with the president,
Mrs. Letitia Owens, who has had much
experience in other lines OF work. She
enlisted me, although l must confess I
was an easy convert. havir. a.ways had a
soft place In ny hear. for boys, aud them
we gathered the res of the board
"Oh, L am sure we shall succeed. The
press is with us and the people are so
kind. One theater has already promised
us benefit. and we expect no difficulty in
obtaining volunteers for an entertain
ment which we propose giving for the
benefit of the club in October next.
1--WE will have more To say after next
Thursday afternoon, when we meet again.
After We have formulated our plans we
propose calling meeting Of news and
messenger boys to elicit their ideas and
inform them OF our designs i'll greater de-
tall"