The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-18

4 n tributes to the Sun a letter
which traverses precisely
the ground frequently gone over by
The Tribuue-namely, the need in our
cities of attractive and wholesome
places where young men may spend
their evenings in social enjoyment
without being allowed to drift for pre-
carious amusement into saloons, dance
halls or other haunts of evil.
Mr.. Archer's business calls him fire.
quently to New York. He has a large
acquaintance among business men, but
as most of these live out of town the
acquaintance does not include invita-
tions to their homes, consequently he
has for years. as he admits, been
doomed to pass his evenings in his
room, in the hotel lobby, in a barroom
or in a theater unless, as an alterna-
tive. he went to some pains to find
a church meeting or other religious
gathering. He thus defines his pre-
dicament, which Is not uncomnon
Although have been member OF a church
for over quarter of a century, do not care to
tdhc up TeilklOuS SUBJECTS every night IN tne
week. II go to a library or readin. room there
isn't the least sooiability about it, for the simple
reason that the first Ching that greets the eye
on entering is sign or any number of them,
reading, "No Talking" as it disturbs those read
ing. | am doomed to get paper or book and
do likewise. II you go TO the Y. VI. G.. A. every
one you meet is mbucd with the idea that the
only subject permissible is religion and il you
are a stranger you will hardly get through the
before will 70
know ii you are a Christian an all the why's
and whereiores, which makes Christian feel un-
comfortable, much more so one who is not. Now,
my belief is that no one ever went to the church
with the intention OF being c/nverted, any more
than any one ever went nto a saloon with the
idea OF becoming a dru/kard; that going TO
church is from custom or a sense of duty and that
thousands OF young men drift into the saloons
simply because they want sociability and have no
other place in which to find It. Our saloons are
made as attractive and alluring to the young men
as money and inventive genius can make them.
The crying need OF the day is neutral ground
where young men may spend their evenings, with
all the attractions OF the saloon without any Of
its evils, and under such circumstances thousands
Of young men would be kept from the evils OF the
saloon, even ii they were not eventually brought
over to the church.
But Mr. Archer is more than a critic;
he is a constructor as well. This is
how he would proceed to remedy the
defects just noted:
In the heart OF the Tenderloin district | would
lease fairsized building and put arst.class
moderatc.priced restaurant on the first floor to
help pay expenses. This | would conduct TO a
certain extent on "home" principles, that is. I
would set apart one or more tables for Irregular"
meals, charging a stipulated price, putting the
op hp nh nj inr tn hnN
what he wanted. The second floor I would At up
as a frst-class saloon. with all modern improve
ments in the shape OF tables, bar fixtures, music,
ETC.. and would have every fancy drink that could
be thought Of TO crafty the taste, but without
the use Of beer or liquors. These would be served
either at the tables or bar and games of various
kinds would be supplied for the tables. The third
floor would he supplied with billiard and pool
tables. On the fourt.. floor | would fit up an as.
sembly room and encourage debates on the topics
of the day and get the young men to take an ac.
tive part in the doing OF everything to make the
place attractive. Now, while I would not allow
any OF these debates to be Of religious nature,
every opportunity would be offered for the 'lool.
OUT committees of the different Christian En-
deavor societies to meet these young men and in.
vite them to spend an hour once a week at the
church. These parties could meet in the bar or
billiard room, go TO the church meeting and af.
terward return and spend the remainder Of the
evening il they did not feel disposed to go home
so early I would keep this place open every
day in the week, Tor the saloon does more harm
OH Sunday than all the rest of the week put to-
gether.
There need be no disparagement of
existing philanthropic institutions In
order to establish the necessity for
better provision of innocent social op-
nnrtunitiec for vOunC men The nv
erage youth is easily led either upward
or downward. 1t Is because the ma
chinery of the downward pull is so
much more attentively watched, oiled
and improved than is the machinery
of the moral elevators that we have
! Paterson outrage and murder cases
and numerous similar developments in
| progressive depravity.
| --
The Kansas lynchers in some re-
spects are yet a trihe behind those of