New-York tribune., 1902-01-10
CITING THEN GOOD TINES.
a CENTRE FOR RECREATION OF
BOYS AND GIRLS

Through all our everyday activities we hold fast
10 the idea that here TO express the Joy OF
life" says Dr.. Jane E. Robbins IN her annual re-
port as head worker Of the Normal College Alum
The one rule OF the house IS that must all try
10 be happy. and II any little maiden fancies that
she enjoys being miserable she IS promptly ban
ished until she gets better mind We mean that
our clubs shall offer free opportunity for the ex-
preston OF personality. and in a specially noisy
ebUllition OF the small boys II always consoliug
10 remember that at least they sad. Their
appreciation OF the joys Of freedom soon prompts
them to take the attitude expressed IN boy Ian
guage by the words, Anything to please you
The girls find great pleasure IN their games and
singing 'Punkey Doodle and Jollapin' falls
10 bring Light TO their eyes Some children who
were taught during the long summer mornings TO
crochet finally made pretty white baby sacques.
and in so doing drank deep OF the joys OF artistic
expression.
The cooking classes have been also Of great
value to the children in giving them a chance TO
make something. II IS no uncommon sight our
block, in the dusk Of a winter afternoon. 10 see a
small girl speeding home with a precious cup OF
cocoa show grandmother what she can DO.
Grandmother is generally properly apprecative
and saves some Of the cocoa TO give the mother
when she returns from the factory Several twelve
year-oIds tell very proudly OF the wonders they
have been able TO accomplish IN time OF illness
with soup for the children poached egg on toast
for the sick one But pUttering around in the
kitchen making good things 10 Is such fun that
even II nothing were learned in these classes It
would still be time well spent
PLUCKY AND sELF-FORGETFUL.
Through the winter evenings the house IS a
centre 10 the working boys and girls for the
ton they so greatly need. Here they become their
natural free and careless selves, and forget IN a
game OF blindfod days trials and the foreman
OF uncertain temper. Fortunately the young are
so light Of heart that IL would take than
grim factory walls TO crush out their gayety. The
girls work beyond strength and often pitt
fully overburdened, but they are plucky and self
forgetfu and their characters seem 10 thrive
tive responsibility Their sum Of happiness compares
very fayoraDly with that of their more sheltered
sisters, who contributing largely the
family support, and have the Joy OF knowing
themselves TO be very important members Of So
ciety at the age OF sixteen.
a good many Of the girls cigarmakers, and
some of them able earn S. So SO week
The making Of cigars is more healthy than some Of
the other work tobacco. and they feel themselves
very fortunate. In speaking Of the work Of girl
who was not employed in making the cigars. one Of
them said The dust from the tobacco gets into
lungs and the girl spoken Of answered smilingy,
On @ailt 70 ale young 10 give snese @ gtrs s- al
unatey, the boys feel just as we DO, and they are
night a group OF young people meets with US Tor
some form Of testivity and we believe with !, the
the development OF embryo virtues It is because
sagre Tst Ray 70 6e od and gouns TSe small sunday
night concerts are much enjoyed and singing Is
In thinking OF our work we never know whether
10 class library under the head Of recreation or
education. The library is especially dear 10 the
hearts Of many very young children, who bear OF
proudly 10 their homes well thumbed copies Of
picture books and fairy tales Could we more
effectively supply the school children with the his
tory and poetry they need in their supplementary
reading should be able to Ill a great nelghbor-
hood need
GUARD THEM AGAINST sTREETINESS.
In our interest IN the individual boys and girls
we Try not to lose sight of the fact that we are
not only 70 be ueighbors TO two hundred or three
hundred young people. but we are also to be the
friends OF the families which these young people
belong. one thoughtful club girl said. A settle
neut is make girls c0ntentec at home ana
we feel that II more contented means IN tr4er re-
lafion with home life. could not have higher
ideal set before There IS d superficial amer
canisru in large cities that some OF Us IN me
Settlements view with growing alarm The cnl4-
traditions their fathers before they are n me
least ready TO take 10 heart the traditions Of the
Land Of the Pilgrims Pride TracitIons DO nor
spring up in a day and we believe mat we ought
10 encourage those who coming 10 America 70
bring all the ideals Of their tatheriaIld
hold their children TO them against al the
'streetiness' and cheap AmericaHism that so over
whelm the children of the first generation IN MS
country. Despsing ones forefathers IS NOT d
strong foundation which build good CITIZEN
ship and the boy who says with flashing eyes thaL
Ziska was the George Washington Of Bohemia has a
chance of understanding what George Wash-