The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1894-03-16
BAD BOYS.
a Card on tho subject by Rev. }. "a.
Croker.

Card on tho subject by Rev. ,. "a.
Croker.
To tho independent
do not wish 10 appear as she apologist
Of those bad boys. OF whom We have heard
90 much about In the last three months;
and Of whom Helena may have a large D O.
portion. Bat do wish TO point cot that
mere denunciation IL very poor medicine 10
use Ia this connection. Abuse Of these
boys will not win them 10 noblsr conduct
nor will 10 restrain others ffom following
in their steps. IL We want 10 haVs good
boys, We must uss the means that make
boys good. -wholesoms amusemsnts. proper
physical training. the early occupancy OF
their minds and hearts with the sweet,
pure. noble things of life.
II u be true that We have an unusually
large number OF viclol 10 lads In our midst.
oui urgent duty Is not 90 indalRe in bitter
language against them. nor TO expect the
nsw Isform school (which never ouRht 10
have borne the name of evil implioation)
TO Gu o the difficulty. nsr 10 resort 10 more
stringent police regulations. bat rather TO
address ourselves 10 the question; What 10
the cAuss OF this evil produeti
/ We must 90 down to Its
roots. We must penetrate TO the
/ oreatiye influences which mold the younQ
nature. 4. Dos ara bad IL 10 because
means have not been taken 10 make them
better. 80 that the problem for ua 10 con-
! slider - Nhstsin has the community
failed Ia Its duty to the bOysf imagine
that many parents in Helena would do vel
to at down In sackcloth and ashes and
mediate in shame upon the things In their
own life that have helped to make the con
/ duet OF the rising generation sensual, in
temperate and vicious. What habits in
Obliged, what practices condoned. what
plague spots Of vics psrmittedi IL would
De we'll II every one OF Ne would calmly
consider for even ten min utes day during
the remainder Of Lenu What have done
and what will do by pr0oept example and
service to purify, snnoble and enrich tue
general life OF the oommunity-ita public
] opinion. its political customs, lie business
idsA.-whioh. more than anything else.
shapes ths life of its boysf
And now, TO come 10 abe point of a pTao-
| tic 4 suggestion. Tiers ought 10 be in this
oitY some place where boys and younR men
could hnd, without money and without
price. pure amusement and wholesome
/ Tsoreation-an institution that would com
bino under enc broad and national manage
ment n gymnasium, q club room. q leaturs
room. aud various other means aud mothods
OF q humanizinR tendency. Institutions Of
] this charaotsr exist in places smaller than
/ Helena, aud their history demonstrates
their inoalculable value. 1T would ooat a
great deal" some one will suggest. Yes. 10
would cost something. But 10 10 cheaper to
| keep boy pure than to reform him after
] ne las fallen. ~ - cheaper 10 proNout MS
/ becoming a oriminal than to convict him
after he has committed the crime. There
are men In this town to-day whose deprsdR-
tions against society cost Us In i've years
more than IL would have taken TO have sent
them through college. Infinitely better
than hiring ten new policemen would 10 be
I 20 use the same money and enc ~ ia ways
/ that would touch the springs of character.
making all bOrs better and helping way
ward boys 10 their noblsT self. Oar public
schools are doing for our children a noble
work. on public library 10 efficiently ssrV.
/ ing the higher interest of the community,
but there 10 a much needed work which
neither can do, bat which an institution
euch 49, have mentioned could suecessfully
I pc form.
appeal 90 the earnest. thoughtful, public
/ spirited citizens OF this town land / am
sure that there are a great many of them in
our midst) lie 10 not our duty to begin at
once at the right END of this serious prob
lem and provide an institution that will
ep.eal to the noblsr instincts of the boys
and even what seem TO be the very worst
have large possibilities Of improvement.
that will preoccupy their minds and hearts
with wholesome interests, and that will
provide them with rscrsation-home. de-
vsloping Ia them along various lines tbo
tnlngs that make fer COED citizenship l
am sure that great MANY have been thiHk-
ing in this direction. Are there not some
Rble and willing to act in furtheranes of a
movement that will be fruitful OF good in
so many waysl j. II. CROKER.
Helena, March IA, 1894