Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-12-04

OF the country pay only from one-third to
one-half of the expense incurred in main
lalhlhg TINS educational work. In most in
stances the organization eXpends from ten
10 li1teen dollars per member for the sup
pert of the work. while it receives from
lhe membership fee only from five to eight
dollars. The point has not yet been reach
Ell In association work. any more than in
the greater educational institutions of the
country. where the receipts for tuition en-
tlrely provide for the maintenance of thu.
work.
The Association Quarters
The association of the city of Washing
ton. during the last seventeen wears of its
history, has occupied quarters better than
ever before adapted to its needs. Still.
even at its best, the old building ORIGINALLY
intended for a club house, and planned to
accommodate. perhaps, not to exceed 200
members. could never be remodeIed to
properly accommodate the membership of
l.2b', which the association enrolled pre-
Nious TO the fire. There were then in some
instances, from eighty to ninety students in
single class room. From this if NAV
easily be seen that rooms of ordinary size
would not be suited even to this one feature
OF association work. not to mention the va
rious other interests that would require
meeting rooms, parlorS. reading rooms
DatfS, a gymnasium and SO on, where from
800 to G'O young men could properly be ac-
commodated of an evening.
since the association acquired the prop
erty, 1iH)-1l New York avenue there has
been a steady growth in the valuation of
properties i'll that Sec lion of the city, until.
as business has gradually come toward Nth
street and New York avenue, the property,
Tor which the association paid $50 600 in
1SS2 has grown to be worth s94, 500 to 500
COD. ann 1t may be reasonably expected tina.
this increase in valuation will continue
The building site of the association is ac-
cessible by two street car lines from
Georgetown, by two lines from Mount
Pleasant. and by direct lines from the
northeast and southeast: so that every part
of the city is within easy reach by direct
lines of street cars
Scope of the Premises.
The addition of the twenty foot lot 14O7,
gives the association a complete frontage
of seventy-six feet, and a depth of one
hundred and thirty-five feet. Upon this 1t
has been planned to erect a six-story build
ing, which, with the exception of three
stores on the ground floor, will eventually
be devoted entirely to association purposes.
1t is expected. however. that for a few
years the organization will rent some of
its offices on the front of the third, fourth
ard fifth floors. respectively.
Those at the head of the movement feel
that the Washington Association has too
long stood in the background, and they
believe that this is the time to take an adj
vanced stand and to establish the inst-
tuition where it can take its place as
home for the thousands of young men who
constantly enter the city from all parts
of the country.
The experience of the Washington Asso-
citation mas proved the lines Of work that
would be acceptable to vast numbers of
young men. Even in the limited quarters
they have been compelled to occupy they
have accommodated in the neighborhood OF
four hundred and fifty students year for
q number of years. The studies have been
confined principally to commercial lines
Tb.are Sti a
the vast number of apprentice plumbers.
bricklayers and carpenters. who could be
better fitted for their work through lines
Of study which nave been very successful
in other associations of the country.
Efforts to Purify.
At the time the old building was destroy
ed by file the association had one of the
first places in athletic work in the city. and
some of the leading athletes, both in this
and other cities. have been trained there.
The association has endeavored to purify
athletics adding greatly to the interest in
this work both indoors and out. and elm
mating in every instance the immortality so
often attending such exercises and sports.
More than any other athletic institution
of the country. it is claimed, the Young
Mems Christian Association has sought, by
systematic training. for an all-round de-
velopmcnt and to build up strong bodies
that should stand the work and strain of
the busy life of the day, rather than to
fit athletes to win prizes upon the field, the
track and in the arena. The favor with
which this system of athletics has been 70
ceived is shown by the fact that thousands
of young men have rallied to this standard,
so that for many years. it is declared. the
Washington Association had the strongest
athletic work in the city.
Early History.
A history of the association in its early
days was furnished by District Commits
sioner John B. Wight. 1t was written by
his father. the late Otis c. Wight and was
found among his papers after the latter's
death. The following extract Is taken
from it:
During the year 1851 the interest in the
Y NJ C. A. work, which had been going
on for some years across the waters, began
to take a practical form in the United
states and In Canada. In the latter part
of 1851 and the beginning of 1852 associa-.
lions were formed in Boston, Worcester
and Springfield. Mass; in Buffalo. N. Y;
In Portsmouth. N, H., and in Montreal,
Can. An association of somewhat similar