New-York tribune., 1901-03-26
TONY'S HARDSHIPS.
Mr.. RIIs TALKS on THE SMALL BOY OF
THE STREETS-HE ASKS WOMEN
TO PROTECT FAIRGROUNDS

'Tony's Hardships" discussed by Jacob a.
Ris yesterday the regular meeting of the Wom-
ems Conference Of the Ethical Culture Society.
Tony is the name given by Mr.. Riis to .he street
eamin who becomes the tough and generally the
Jail bird" For the existence of the type Mr.
Ris blamed the upper classes, and presented the
wrongs Of the child in A manner that brought both
tears and laughter from a large audience.
Boys bad TO begin with asserted Mr.
Ris They too often bad in the ending, but
il is because make the beginning and make It
wrong" He defined the groundwork on which
character is built as being the home, the school
and the playground, and said that "a boy could not
come from a home fit only for pigs and like
man In Denmark. where j born. the pigs
are better housed than these boys OF the sums in
great cities. But pigs have commercial value, in
creased by sunlight and fresh air. and the boys
have not"
MI Riis said Of the schools that few years ago
the children were put into them and stuffed, as if
in a sausage machine and not with good material
either
There have always been some honorable ex-
ceptions" he admitted; otherwise the wrath of
the Almighty would have descended and swept the
Board Of Education away But the system is illus
irated by the fact that Mayor gayly appointed
look after the schools In ward a man who
had been dead year and nobody found 1t out for
time"
AS a specimen Of the kind Of training that the
schools have given 20 the boys. Mr.. Riis instanced
some civil Service examinations Tor Ihe ponce
force when Mr. Roosevelt Police Commits
sloner. one paper gave as five OF the original
thirteen States" England Scotland, Wales Cork
and Belfast Another, in a brief account Of Abra-
ham Lincoln. finished "a highly original essay"
with the information that he murdered by
Balngton Booth
The speaker commented severely the compul-
sorry education law that committed boys TO reform
atories when there were no schools
provided for them. and placed them with Grim
inals thereby making them the same. The truant
spirit is the adventurous spirit. and only needs
proper direction. The last thing in the world to do
with boy is 10 jail him" said the speaker. who
continued: so much for Tonys home and school.
But of equal Importance IL his play. An American
hoy must get a chance play ball or he can never
vote properly. There be whole boy II
YOU would have a whole man. Yet II IS only within
few years that he has been allowed a play
ground. A boy is steam engine Plug up the
playing not allowedf and enforce them by police
Is & ana there Is sure 10 & be an exPiosio9
way. boy who has no chance 10 play is an eN-
Mr.. Riis protested earnestly against the PROPOSE
ton 10 take the school Fairgrounds for library
With Immense dinlculty We got those playgrOunds
got the law passed that compelled every new new
now the Board of Education is deliberately trying
Mr. Riis urged the women present to protest
against n. saying that they save the play
grounds if they act now. but soon il might be too
Another point made by Mr.. rms was that the
social instinct viii express itself. and That the
boys club better than ''the gang" He spoke Of
the Fresh Air Fund one OF the sanest and best
agencies for good ever developed. adding that II
II much easier 20 form than reform. and that
heredity could be overcome by environment He
also spoke OF the possibilities for good in every
ope. giving some striking instances Of heroism
among apparently incorrigible 'toughs.' The on
Nironment must be provided. insisted, and eX-
pressed his belief that schoohouses should be
made available for club and other social purposes.
The time VIII soon come when n will be possible.
~ the women continue 10 work they have be-
Kun . fe thought tnat peoples CLUBS klnoers nos gar gar
perance than all Mrs. Nations