The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-03-21
col. WARNINGS q AIDS.
SCHOOL CHILDREN WHo HELP TO
KEEP THE STREETS CLEAN

MEL " cA"asDA" SDS""
n1ore Than $500 Volunteers In the Juvontlo
Street Cleaning LenEues-Good Rnecta Pro-
dueed All Around-IiVsly Debates at BenEue
Meetings Some Educational Features.
Col. Warning has more than 1900 volunteer
cadets TO assist him In the Department OF Street
Cleaning. He has a high opinion Of them, and
tho mere mention of his nnmo sets their tongues
10 wagging, and brings out n volley OF adj
3ectives. who arc these cadotsl They arc
the members Of the Juvenile street cleaning
lsagucs. Where do they come FRONT From
svory walk in life. and they vary in age from
sr 10 sixteen, and In size from midgets to over
grown boys and girls.
About two years ago tho Colonel put on his
thinking cap ono day. Tho way to reach the
people on tho great east side, with Its 900 In
habitants to the acre, md 10 teach them that
clearly surroundings mean increased health
and happiness to themselves had long been a
problem only half solved. Tho majority Of the
people in this section arc poor and ignorant.
Thousands of them do not speak English and
have no conception of civic pride. They could
not be expected to obey city ordinances of
which they had never heard. While thinking
over this state OF affairs Col. Warning had an
idea that proved an inspiration.
Tho childrenl' he said. "They are superior
to the parents in both education and intelli-
EenCe. VIC mubU ntcTcbb Jho
Thus the movement started In the department.
The first league was formed among the brightest
boys in the Eleventh, Twelfth. and Thirteenth
wards near an east side station. 1t was called
the East Side Juvenile Protective League. For
q number of months very little was done.
Then tho Hebrew Institute Street Clean
Ing League was organized, and the two
did excellent work that summer. They
succeeded in creating n sentiment that
had wonderful influence over the young people
and their parents. After that, leagues would
have sprung up like mushrooms on IA warm,
damp day, but the idea was Il new one and the
department still considered it experimental.
Col. Warning did not wish to push the movement,
but wanted the growth 10 be gradual. to sec IL
there was anything in the idea. Early in 1895
other leagues were formed, but it was not until
the following fall that the movement seemed to
pass the experimental stage and was pushed for
all it was worth.
Tho leagues are formed in connection with
schools. public, private, and industrial; uni
vcrsity and church settlements and missions.
They arc usually under the guidance of n teacher,
aided by n member of the Street Cleaning De-
pnrtment detailed for the work. Justin p.
Miner has charge of the leagues above
Houston street, and David Willard looks
after those below. James Is. Reynolds,
head worker OF the University Settle
mcnt ut 20 Delaney street, consented not
long ngo to superintend the whole movement.
AT present there nre about thirty leagues, and
new ones are being formed every week. The
membership of some consists entirely of boys,
while others admit only girls; still others have
q mixed membership. In all cases n pledge,
something as follows, is signed by every MEM
Der and kept by the Secretary:
We. the undersigned members OF the --
League. agree TO do all in our power to assist the
Commissioner of Street Cleaning in keeping the
streets In Clearly condition. We promise not to litter
the streets ourselves, and to use our influence to keep
Others from doing so. We further promise to report
90 the Secretary Of this society all buildings that we
md not supplied with SUFFICIENT garbage cans and
ash barrels.
No formal constitution and bylaws are neces-
oary, but the leagues ill clamor for them. Mr..
Willard and Mr.. Miner make them, and then the
children fight over them. Some of them develop
into formidable documents in the hands of the
young cadets, and many a man would think
twice before joining u society so stringent in its
requirements as some of the leagues. In speak
lng Of the movement. Mr.. Miner said:
Every league meets once n week. and the
children have absolute control of the meetings.
Somc OF the downtown clubs limit their member
End ii%it so% as make ia siz an AL III nre ih a s SuG hRs a
condition, and the interest taken by the
members is surprisingly great: The de,
report weekly, which is filled out and
handed in to the Secretary at the meeting. The
These reports relate 10 overtlled and mixed gar
bage cans, barrels. SC, and tell just what each
child has done toward clearing the streets of
fruit skins, Goals. papers. tin cans, and SO on.
Sometimes the younger members OF the leagues
ead personai experiences 70 their regui9r repofts
s":in King street there was a lady and she
RlinnpI pnI roll lnyI EinIlv nirknH her IN