The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-01-31
BOYS CLUB DOES,
E~FFECTITE EFFORTS TO ATTRAo1
TO UNGsTBRs FROM THE STREET.


An Auu.Crap. League That TIA. Reduced
hey GnnbIiug 60 Pitching Buttor. at =
t~rsck-Indoor Games and Other Entor<,
tainneuts-Need OF . New BuiidinGS
The trustees OF the Boys Club Of St. AIarlsss
place arc cndeavorinR to collect enough money
TO erect q new buildlng adequate to the ds<i
mands OF the organization. The present quar-
tiers In the old building are entirely TOO small TO-
accom- nodato the increasing membership. and
tho trustees EXPECT TO have the necessary
funds for the purcahse and eouipmont.of tHA
new building before the next winter season.
At the regular annual meeting Of the trustees
on Tuesday evening the subject was dsS
Guessed. and tho board resolved so devise wayS
and means 10 secure the requisite amount fof
the now building a. soon as possible.
The Bows Club ia by no means . new profS,
cot. II has long been familiar 10 economic
students and philnnthroplsts and one has only
TO visit the quarters of the club during its sos<
sions TO understand the benefits annoyed ~
the lads who frequent II. The quarters of the
club are In the basement and on the nrst floor Of
the old building on tho northwest corner OF 81
Marks place aud Avenue a.. The general asS
scmbiy room in the basement 10 the maiR
room Of tho club. 1t Is 30x75 feet, and Il fur<
nished so that tho boy members may play
numerous games OF the harmless. hcaithful
variety. such rs crokinolo. draushts. AndidomHs
noes Some Of the essential qualifications foSi
membership are clean face and hands and Renx,
eral cleanliness OF clothes and shoes. DirtN
boys arc suspended until they consent to oom<
ply with tho rule. II 10 bard for some Of the
smaller lads to obey the ruls. as they pasA
most Of their time whom not IN the club play<l
Ing In the street, but when q boy has been susti
pended once or twice hc usually makes up lilo
mind 10 keep himself clean.
TbArn In .hs,lusrtv M diocrfpninatfnn a. tai
creed or nationality in the qualifications fof
membership for the club 10 non-sectsrian. Al
they are In the heart Of the TompkiRr square
district. the members might DO called . mixed
lof. Tho German element prcdominates. buu
there are Russian, Irish, Slaronic, sonS
French, and Italian names ON the rostory
Any boy 10 eligible for membership, and all he
has to IDOLS to present himself and obtain . cardA
which he II required 10 show ut the door beforS
he II allowed 70 enter. The card rule aims I'd
keep out strangers who are apt to mako misc
chief. The management has very little trou4
bio with the regular members. The club ID
open every evening between z and v o'clock
and last season ono of tho Board Of Trusted
opened the club rooms three afternoons . week
from ~ 70 o o'clock. There was an averar4
attendance Of 100 boys each afternoon.
1t would DO hard 70 ind q moro Interestingly
place In tho busy metropolis than the BoyH
Club during the afternoon or evening sessions
Tho general assembly room Is crowded with.
youngsters OF ali the types which make ua
cosmopolitan New York. They range In year4
from o to II. and there are some older boys.
HAT In hand" Is the innexible rule which,
all must obey rs they enter the club door. bup
the other restrictions are few. Tho boys arc
allowed 10 DO gcnereiiy rs they please, and the
superintendent rarely has To call any OF them
to Account for misbehaying The club has y
membership list OF 4.so5 and the number Of
A,Na.Naa..a laaN gAAa xgaa 70 nnA ThA naVzl
b"rship list hiss grown 40 fast that It Is not un-
usual TO ind 900 to 600 bows at any evening sesx
large number for q special entertainment.
Recently. at every special Entertainment,
sa asSa. a'i ist ss sSs re aoo, isw'i re ,Gaa iiin9T sa SSss
the bows have g library. and. as one OF the
, TSiss % , ANUS, . , ,nsm. eISe s' PSss sSer, WIN y.
tingine class under the direction OF Mtss Sarah
l., Dur MIN e, ai W,,. nu Sy loo po oIanr e nrpy, sySn-
started an afterno9n sinsing class which Is
noon and evvaing. Once n week a trustees
reads % the boys. and three evenings in the
rymnastics which are very popular with the
boys. Every evening there is u drill which,
'sf The q iae n'O Of TX The 'H %s H1sSenn%sion however. IL.
not to lay down any definite plan OF INSTRUCT
nbie TO have regular instruction. requiring
steady application, In q building where anuse1
nise tho fact that the boys have abundanS
opportunities 70 study at the public day aud
night schools. The shief inca Il to elevate the
| morals OF tho boy members OF the club. Tho
latest feature IL an Anti-Craps Playing Leagu,-
More than 900 OF tho boys have Joined this
league By signing thoir nance in a book Ehict
contains q pledge that they will not shoo1i
craps, and at all times will tell the truth. Tho
| members of the league wear badges representa-
Ing American days with the words ANTI
| Craps Playing Leaaus' In gilt letters.
Tho work of the B~ys' Club In effective, AZ
may 10 CLEANED from the reports OF the police
since the Anti-Craps Playing League waa
formed the policemen say that the game 10
played rarely near the club. Craps Ia played
with dice, and 10 one OF those street gambling
games viii n leads the youngsters TO the saloon,
The policemen say that the boys now pitch
buttons at a crack In the sidewalk, but that 10
| not a saloon vame. They also say that since
the club has grown to large proportions h.htf
among tho boys In tho streets are uncoin}
mon. Tho boys do not pay any membershiU
fees, but there Ia . nne OF one cent for ANYBODY
who loses any of tho articles with which tho
games arc played. The club 10 supported en<
tirely BY voluntary contributions. From tho
report Of tho Treasurer for the last fiscal Year
IL will be seen that the expenses of running
the club do not.Ardount:to $4,000 . year. The
reuort follows;
ns S:s Il soo.ia.n'.,, Trust COMPANY .so,,,
nonsu9ns !, S1ss,v
e3,b5l. 10