Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1900-11-20
BOYS CLUB
Continued from First Page

COuJluueu IrOm clTSC rage
could for them and would have done
more, only my pocketbook would not
allow of it,"
He then presented the boys to the
club and told them to always come to
the rooms the same as they did to the
other rooms while under his care, and
to use this as their home and their
play ground.
James L. Dudley, superintendent OF
the National Boys clubs, then thank
ed those present for showing such an
interest in the movement as to VEN
ture out on such a night. He read
some very interesting facts from a
speech given by him at the opening Of
one Of the boys clubs in Philadelphia.
MI. Albert A. Sargent, secretary Of
the local committee, spoke practically
as follows, and we reproduce bis
speech almost entire, because in it he
dealt with many questions that have
been often asked:
"Your committee, to which was in.
trusted the work OF instituting a
Boys Club In city, tonight, after
some delays, makes its first report.
"As a usual thing the most difficult
part of al undertaking is getting
started. To gain the confidence of
the people and prove our undertaking
practical, it is needful to proceed with
discretion and this has been the policy
Of your committee-to carry out a
iudiciouslv as possible the trust dele
gated to us by tie public, whose SER
wants we are.
"We will not rehearse the steps by
which the work has been brought to
its present stage.
"Tho' it has been hard for some of
US to give the time required, yet the
pleasure has been ours, for we have
enjoyed that compensation which
comes alone to him who serves others.
Your committee has not been willing
to monopolize this pleasure, however,
and so has sent to many of you letters
for contributions, and those
who gave have shared our joy with
us. We take this opportunity to
thank you publicly, and trust as time
passes your interest will not be with.
drawn.
"Many details are not as yet worked
out. The age at which boys will be
received will be an important ques.
tion. In many clubs the age limits
Of ~ and 16 are considered proper,
but we intend to begin with boys of
all ages and find by experience what
lines had best be drawn.
"Another question about which a
variance Of opinion seems to prevail is
that of membership fees. We realize
that it is bad to instil into anyone
md especially into the minds of the
the idea that something can he
lad for nothing. The more a person
receives free gratis the more'he expects
It the same price. 1t is better that
very nan should learn that good
'hings must be bought with a price,
md than we only enjoy what we have
armed by labor. 1t is likely therefore
hat a small membership fee will be
later, not that a revenue may
'e obtained, but that the principle of
something for our privileges
nay be maintained.
"These rooms are dedicated to the
Of the manhood of the
uture, and all the boys, rich and poor,
Ugh and low, arc to stand on the
anne footing, so that the earnest lad
hall have an opportunity made for
i'm to help himself.
"We want you and the boys to feel
hat this lisa philanthropy purely non
'ctarian, instituted for the improve.
tent of the boys as a class, to make
1em better fitted to undertake the
uties that must shortly fall upon
lem, and our aim is to do this in a
ay that shall he pleasing to the boys .
lemselves. !
do not need to 60 down to the
rot Of the ladder after our boys, for
has not the lower classes which
e found in many cities, but we hope 4
take u boys where we find them
I'd give them a chance to climb
CHER, that they may stand in their
anhood on the heights of a pure,
'ble and unseltish character"