New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-09-26
SAVING BOYS FROM THE STREETS.
GOOD WORK DONE By THE BRIDGEPORT
BOYS' CLUB

BOYS CLUB.
bridgeport Conn. Sept - (speciaD-One OF
the most commendsbe and most successful
movements in philanthropy. and one that has
been n1odestly conducted and with a compare
lively small expenditure OF money. Is the Bridge
port BOYS Club Of this city. The most active
worker and promoter Of this organization. who
has been its president since the start. is Captain
John C. Curtis. war veteran ard member OF
the New-York COmmandery Of the Military
order Of the Loyal Legion. few years ago
Captain Curtis, with few other philanthropic
citizens OF Bridgeport. undertook to organize
boys club. where boys Of all classes especially
children Of poor parents could spend their even
ings out Of reach Of the communicating influences
of the streets and their corpanionshps. From
these efforts resulted the chartered corporation
on March - 1893. known as the bridgeport
Boys Club" Its objects are stated in Section )
of the charter follows
The object for which said corporation has
been created and established is to provide suit
able building or evening home for the boys Of
this city. irrespective OF nationality or religious
belief. between the ages of seven and eighteen
years. where they can spend their weekday
evenings in a safe and pleasant and profitable
manner with surroundings calculated TO elevate
and improve them in mind. body and morals,
through the agency OF instructive books. papers
and magazines. innocent games Of various kinds.
OF suitable entertainments, lectures and
certs; in fine, 10 provide and equip suitable
room or suite Of rooms where boys who have no
place in which TO spend their evenings pleasant
~ and pro1taby can find bright cheerful and
attractive evening home with kind friends 10
provide for their comfort and pleasure and
where all the appliances 10 a healthful and
peasurable evenings entertainment will be at
their service TO the end that such bows MAJ he
kept from evil places OF resort and from evil as
sociations which would compose their ruin. to
the detriment Of the community and Of the state
unless some helping hand and kindly thoughtful
effort be put forth in their behalf"
The active membership. according 10 the
last annual report, Los. of whom
more than one-half are below thirteen years
old and the remainder between thirteen and
seventeen years. There is absolutely no
discrimination as TO creed or nationality in
the qualifications for membership. The boys
are allowed 10 amuse themselves with any
entertainment the club affords: the restric-
tons placed upon them are few: bad language
is strictly prohibited. clean faces and hands are
absolutely required, and cleanliness Of clothes
and shoes are looked after as far as possible
President, John c. Curtis; vice presidents, David
F. HOLSTER and Morris y. Boardsl.v; secretary
and treasurer, Orange Merwin directors. John
C. Curtis. David r HOLSTER. Marshall r Nor
ris. f. c. Durham and Morris b. Beardsley:
Advisory Committee. Howard H. Knapp. George
r. Somers, David F. Read. Clinton ". Stranc
Charles Y. Beach, jerome circuit, James II No
ElrOy and Samuel A. Burns; superintendent O.
II. Garfield; assistant superintendent. Err, 81 L.
Mayer: librarian Miss Susan +. Hobby.
The clubrooms are at No. 467 Water-st.. but II
is proposed 10 raise fund and build a club
house with all Of the appointments that may be
deemed requisite. The clubhouse is educational
and In addition TO the library there is an album
dance Of games suitable for all ages and they
are under the supervision Of the officers and fol-
low specific rules. The gymnasium department
comprises the chest weights. Indian clubs
dumbbes. punching bags, rife range etc. There
are also musical entertainments. lectures read
ings etc. at intervals during the fall and winter
seasons The latest feature is the penny savings
bank. which has already 1872 regular depositors
and one boy has S23 to his credit.
Some Of the friends OF the club knowing the
need Of better home for the club. have con-
tributed 70 its building fund nearly IS 900 This
sum was recently augmented by a generous
Lockwood. In addition 10 this the late F J.
Lockwood, by his will made conditional be
quest 10 the club Of $4,000 The condition is
that this bequest Is not to be paid to the club
unless within five years from the date % his
death the building fund from other sources shall
be not less than $4,000. II this condition is not
complied with then the $50 900 bcquest Is fall
into the residue Of the Lockwood estate.
President Curtis said few days ago: This
caring for young boys when the care Is most
needed in their lives is the grand work OF the
club The club is open 10 all boys. and is strictly
non-sectarian. Nearly all Of them public
school children. They live In very limited tene-
ments and without this organization the multi
tude OF Young boys Of this city would be in the
streets and naturally in severe weather would
drift into saloons and other evil places When
boys learn to drink beer and play pool they will
not go near any Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton or any other institution. The question Il,
Shall save the multitude Of youngsters. or
shall let them go until they are young men?
What percentage would we then get? What
would think OF farmer or florist who
would not do any wedding cultivating until
the crop was nearly matured? II we save the
boys their manhood is safe. This is the greatest
home mission work on the earth.
THE EDGE or 1 CONTINENT.