The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-02

wwYHEN IL comes to the structural
kAl arrangement of the ideal club
VIZ we continue simply to bring
w in from the outside the boys
every day interests and rela-
tionships. The average boys favorite
story is the one reproducing the life
he lives at home. at school, on the
street. in the fields and woods. The pic
ture he cares most for depicts the re-
lations or the scenes he Is most used
to. The club that is to win his conf
dence and loyalty must give him n
familiar environment
The club feature, then. of first i'm
portance is the social feature. This
must be planned not according to
theoretical pattern of our own-more
likely than not to be artificial and re-
pellant-but along lines suggested by
a sympathetic study of boys legitimate
tastes and habits.
There will be games in variety
many of them foolishness to the adult
mind-some Of them noisy; but hav-
ing one foot still In the nursery
though the other may be already on the
first rounds of the commercial ladder
our boys are not prepared to give up
entirely the nursery atmosphere.
We will follow with music-of not too
classical an order, and not an abund-
ance of any sort. Music is good in the
tanning of savages but more than a
moderate application of 1t in the boys
club will prove reactionary. To fulfill
its high mission of at once giving
pleasure to and elevating the moral
sense music must never be reduced to
the common place. An orchestra and
q glee club among the boys would con-
tinually tend that way; and yet with
thoroughly efficient leader such a
department would have great weight
for good. In the absence of glee club
or orchestra friends of the club with
musical gifts should be encouraged to
occasionally render vocal and instru-
mental selections. In this line the
happy medium should always be at
tempted between the popular-and too
often vulgar-music OF the theaters,
and the higher quality music of the
drawing room.
Frequent stage entertainments. dra-
matte and vaudeville, in which the
performers are from the membership,
and not imported for the occasion will
enliven. and. with proper oversight and
control, greatly strengthen the social
bonds of the club.
A general gathering place will be
necessary. where boy gossip, the relat-
ing of experiences and the exchange OF
pocket jewelry may be carried on;
and where also a favorite dog may
now and then find a welcome.
Add to the foregoing a quiet re-
treat containing well-filled book
shelves and generously supplied
r"ading table; a fairly equipped gym
n2sium and swimming bath; an es-
:rHlishment of natural and sympa-
lhctic social relations with men and
women Of refinement and education,
who volunteer for an hour or two at
The club weekly. and IL II Is not pos
irle to include anything more here
- IN organization which in two gen.
erations will work social wonders.
Eat it is possible to go further and
10 bring about results even more rap
lily than this. We have introduced
nus far play and recreation and a
opmmingling of social interests. Let
- next step he to organize an indus
Trial department. We will set up a
printing press and a rack of type; en-
""Gc the service of a printer a car
pcnter, a shoe cobbler, a tailor and
chair scatter. We will invite the
boys to enter any one of these classes
and fall to work at his chosen trade.
II "A rule is made, forbidding change
from one class to another for a given
number Of weeks, or until time enough
elapses to show which thing is con-
genial and which is not; there will
soon begin to issue from this depart
ment in rapid succession handmade
sleds-more dear to the heart of the
maker than the finest factory product;
repaired shoes, at a cost to the mender
for leather and nails only; name cards
and other type production, with pos
sibly small news sheet published for
and in the clubs name; chairs from
the home sitting room reseated and
rebacked at nominal expense;
mended coats and patched trousers and
buttoned waists-all wrought by the
hands of those who get the direct
profit therefrom. By this process OF
doing for themselves in small ways,
the boys are not only passing their
time pleasantly and proftably while at
the club, but they are learn
ing at the same time the