The times., 1898-09-04
SNIl11ltIlIleB
S41 Pa. Ave. NV.
FOR POOR LADS.
The Facts About the Use OF Mr..
CIeveland's Jersey Farm.
(From the New York Heraid.)

y
From the New York Heraid)
II Is necessary to mention this at the
beginning in order that clear under
standing of the aims and scope of the
institution may be gained. There is no
intention on the part of those directly in
tereSted in IL 10 name the school atter
Mr.. Cleveland. That would be distasteful
TO him, and, inasmuch ne Is the first
and greatest benefactor, his wishes will
be respected.
Nor is the school designed as a home
for the surplus juvenile population of the
city siums. 1t aims to take boys, not in
discriminatory. but after careful inquiry
as to their circumstances, and make use
full and self-respecting men of them. 1t
aims to educate them with class book and
trade II aims, through the medium of
a healthy country life, to roster ambi-
tions which another and more restricted
atmosphere might stifle.
In short this novel institution aims to
make good men of boys who already have
a desire to be good men, but who are
lacking in opportunity and sometimes in
incentive. The boy Of brains will be en-
couraged. The boy who merely wants
home and displays no further interest
in his future, win not be tolerated. Every
pupil will be given a chance TO map out
his own destiny.
The originator of the movement is
young man, who knows of his own eX
perience the struggles and heartburn
ing of the ambitious boy who wants to
make something of himself. The great
passion of his life is a consuming SYM
pathy for such boys. For years he has
schemed and planned and racked his
brain 10 find the best means of going
about the work on a solid basis. And at
.r.itN rf
land and several other philanthropic
gentlemen he sees daylight ahead.
This young man is John Henry Vroom.
His early boyhood was spent in Cam
den, N J. AT the tender age of thirteen
he was obliged TO leave school and found
employment as q cash boy in one of
Philadelphia s big department stores.
The knowledge that he was earning his
own living. or al least contributing TO his
own support, did not altogether take
away the sting born of the knowledge
that his studies must be neglected.
He was a studious little chap. and soon
became known as "the bow with the
book" On street cars. in the ferryb0ats
plying between Philadelphia and his
home in Camden.
Often would the little cash boy gaze
bitterly at the fashionable women ia
silks and satins and think how much
they could do for a boy who was eager
TO educate himself. if they only would.
He told himself then that If when he
grew to be a man he was in a position To
do so he would devote his life to Just
such boys as he figured himself out 10 be.
And now the ambition OF the little cash
boy is about to be realized. Ali that IS
needed to insure its complete fulfil ment
is the aid of few more men like MIR.
nh uybp has only nlapR1 his
farm at the disposal of Mr. Vroom, but
who has already spent the sum of s2.0O)
upon it in the way of improvements.
The cash boy worked his way up to a
position of trust in the meantime spend
ing all his spare moments in study. He
became a pupil at Temple College, in
Philadelphia, an institution connected
with the Rev. Russell II. Conwells Bap-
tist Temple, and while there he was one
OF the editors of the college paper
For two years after that he was stu
dent at the University of Pennsylvania.
During the summer vacation he trav-
eled on the road for Hires Root Beer
Company. thus paying for his college
tuition And all the while he was dream
ing of what he going to do for his
friends, the boys. some day.
partial course at the Princeton Theo-
logical Seminary completed Mr.. Vroom's
education, and then he felt that the time
was ripe for him to begin his life work.
He had mapped out just what he wanted
to do. He wanted to get the boys away
from the cities. in the first place. He
wanted to place them on a farm, where
they would have room to grow, physi-
cally and mentally
One day while in Princeton Mr.. Vroom
approached former President Cleveland.
He unfolded his scheme to Mr.. Cleve-
lands willing ears and ended by boldly
asking if the institution might not be
started on the Cleveland farm.
Mr.. Cleveland was favorably impress
ed and was at once enthusiastic Full
permission was granted for the use of
the farm and its buildings. Mr. Cleve-
land said he thought some improvements
would be necessary. These were prompt
ly made, at a cost of s., 900. The property
will be turned over to the institution as
soon as its organiza ton is perfected, or
as soon as the practical success of the
venture is assured