St. Paul daily globe., 1893-08-05
HAVEN FOR NEWSBOYS.
SOME FACTS CONCERNING A VERY
WORTHY work.
STREET ARABS BENEFIT TEU.

How the Newsboys' Club Is Man
aged and What 1t Provides
for the Homeless Little Work.
ers-Needs of the Institution
In Certain Respects-A Happy
Family.
1t is very doubtful whether many out
side of the few generous people who
have given their support to the News
boys club siuce it was organized in
January, 1887, by Miss Grace Johnstone,
know very much of the inside workings
of this very necessary as well as very
useful branch of the charitable work
that is going on in our midst. Just at a
time when some changes are taking
place i'll the mode of carrying on this
work, and some additions to the useful
ness of the institution are being made,
it may be wei. for some who have either
the time or the ability or both to be in
formed as to what Is being done, and
also what the needs of the association
are for the furtherance of the good
work.
The employment bureau, which IS
run in connection with the club, is
probably as little known as it is appre-
ciated. The rooms are open from ten
until twelve every morning for the
transaction of any business, but prin-
cipally so that poor boys who are out Of
work may apply there for situation.
Persons who need boys for Offices, to
work on farm, to do chores around the
house, or, in fact, for anything, by leav-
ing their address at the club will be
furnished with the help they need.
Not indiscriminately, but with care
does the superintendent look
over the list of boys who are out Of en-
ployment, and from this selects one
that she thinks can he used in the place
in point. The only places that the boys
never want to go to are some of those
good country homes, where the sur
rOundings would have such good
effect on the street boy. but this kind of
life would be altogether too healthful
and not nearly exciting enough to the
street urchin as long as he can earn
nickel in town.
In the afternoon the rooms are again
open, but ,aS this is the time of harvest
Tor the newSDOy, he Is usually minus
quantity at the club until the evening.
Then it is that these little street Arabs
rush in, and the games or books or
whatever there is to be had in the way
OF amusement is eagerly sought for.
Plans for Boys Profit.
Among the plans that the new super
intendent has in view for the boys are
several that will commend themselves
70 Nybn Of hnx
may be reached. One thing which he
hopes To do is to devote one evening a
week to having class i'll military drill,
Another plan is to give one evening a
week to manual training, and il is hoped
that some person who understands the
mode of giving instruction in this
science will volunteer his services. a
lunch counter that must be Selt-SuStain-
ing is another of the new features of the
club that some of the members are dis
cuSSlng.
On the whole. a great deal is hoped
for during the coming fall and winter
months, and Mr.. Wellington is full of hope
for the future of the neWSDOyS' cluU.
And yet, although each month Miss
Rankin, the indefatigible collector,
manages to bring In about enough to
keep all running expenses cleared up,
still there are many ways i'll which
those who can might help the good
work along. For instance. more games
fer the boys are urgently needed. to
say nothing of more reading matter III
the shape of periodicals, etc.
Another feature of this work that
must not be overlooked is the Union
Sunday school, which meets every Sun
day night III the club rooms.
The boys assemble, and, after
hymn has been sung, and
the Loru's Prayer repeated in con-
cert, the Catholic boys, who are seated
on one side of the room, and the
Protestant boys on the other, are talked
to by members of the church to which
they should belong for little time,
after which another hymn is sung and
they depart. This is probably one of
the few places where such harmony
exists between people OF different re-
ligiouS beliefs.
Rather an amusing incident occurred
during the Mills meetings last sprin q
Two gentlemen on their way to one of 1
the sessions met a small boy loafng
on street corner. They asked
him where he went to church
and were promptly Informed tha
he did not go TO church nowhere except
down TO the club" Upon being Ques-
toned as to who preached at the
"club, be Informed his audience that
Miss JOhnStone and all the folks there
preached"
That the success of the work thus far
has been due entirely to the untiring
efforts of Miss Grace Johnstone goes
without saying, and it is matter of
profound regret that she has been
obliged ON account OF Ill health to give
up the work which she started and
which has done so much good under her
bic management.