Semi=weekly graphic., 1897-05-01

=. a. building they would only have
needed $4,000 with which to build
a jail. John Wanamaker said that
the ! NJ, G, A. building OF Philadel-
phia was the best business invest
ment the city had made. Then lee
US not be afraid OF spending little
money TO make the y. NJ G. A.
rooms beautiful and attractive.
Again the Young men usually goes
where he is wanted aud where he i
made to feel welcome. Your rooms
may be ever SO lnly furnished AMI
beautiful, but il there is not a vel
come there for the visitor he is-not
likely to return. II there is not sun
shine and good cheer he is likely to
go where he will find both. Men do
not. as a rule, like to be palayered
over and treated too Familiarity.
But they DO like to be made to feel
at home. Many Il young man goes
to i'll resorts with no other purpose
than TO enjoy the seeming hearty
welcome and good will " hich he IL
sure to find in those places. Many IL
young man coming into town
stranger and looking for a good.
will be welcome, goes to ruin, be-
cause, from his standpoint, there in
nowhere else to go. Happily the
the Y. NJ. G. A. rooms fills the sbill
in many places, and finding theright
Kind OF a welcome. he is likely to be-
saved from ruin.
Again, most Young men must be
amused. We are indeed often much
discouraged with people generally
because they must nave amusement
whether they have anything else or
not. But we must take the young
men as we fad them. and not as we
would like To have them. The
average yeuag man WILL be,amused.
After the day's work is done, he
must go where he can have the big
gest time. | am glad that some OF
cur boys have homes where they are
delightfully."- entertained, but most of
them have to go out somewhere in
the city. away from home or board
ing house, to have the FUN" they
are looking for.
"Jnck, whore are you going to-
night?"
81 don't know, where can we have
the best time?'
Let's go up to the Y. NJ. G. A
rooms. We can have more fun there
than anywhere else in town.
Such ought to be an every day con-
veraation among young men. And
we can make it so by providing for
the proper entertainment of our vis-
itors when they come to the rooms.
Have popular games, chance to
have some music, college songs, per-
haps. Let the secretaries encourage
tie cracking OF the right kind OF
jokes aud the telling of the right kind
OF stories. Let the reception room
be a place where the hearty laugh
is frequent, the rendezvous uf
pleasnre-seeking young men. There
should be an occasional reception
where the ladies are invited to be
present TO add to the variety and to
bring in the friends Of the association
to mingle with the young men and
cultivate their acquaintance. II
does young man, aud especially u
stranger and q new member, great
deal OF good to be able to meet the
business men Of the community and
feel that he is identified with them In
some way. | think that the men
who are the supporters and officers
Of the association are too little in
the rooms Let there he as much
variety in carrying out the social
work of the association as possible.
At home eyenings-committeemen's
Thanksgiving dinners-bach-
elor receptions-etc.
About once in three months there
should be n grand reception when
/ the public is invited to be present to-
listen to Il short program Of musical
and literary character, hear short
reports Of the work and to enjoy u
pleasant social evening. The. pro-
gram Of these should be varied so as
not lose interest In them.
Thus we see how important it Is
that we get true idea OF the value
of social work. It is on the social
side OF the young men that we must
begin. This is the proper point OF
attack for both good and evil infiu-
eDees in his nature. Then If we
would win him let us be early at cur
work and do it persistently, but sem
sibly.
] Society, so called. is false and,
4 therefore. cruel to the young man.
1t holds up no high ideal for him. 1t
tells him ''be rich or fashionable and
Won shall be happy 1t teaches him
that he need not be as good as MS
sister. 1t teaches him that he can
SOW wild oats and reap a rich har-
yes. of valuable experience. 1t lulls
him into a sta e OF Indifference to
moral and spiritual things. Let us
In our social work remember that
we are to reveal these falsehoods to
the Young men. That we are to
give them the correct ideals of life.