New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-06-30
ATHLETIC EAST SIDERS.
BOYS OF PUBLIC SCHOOL NO. 16o PLAY
CENTRE CHEER JACOB RIIS-A MEM
Der WHO FELL FIVE STORIES
AND GOT A WHIPPING.

elk! Cock! Cock! elk! Cock! Co-exi
Hooray! Hulla-ba-looI! Hundred and Sixty Public
School," This was the yell from nearly thousand
threats that greeted Jacob Riis as he closed his
.neecb TO the literary and athletic clubs of the
evening play centre, in Public School No. l6o, at
Rivington and Suffolk sts, Saturday evening. Col
lsge bows more enthusiastically proud of their
alma mater than are these East Side youngsters
Of their school could not be found
The aristccrats of the occasion and the envied OF
all the crowd were eighteen boys comprising the
ryrnnastic team They all picked men from
the various athletic clubs. and have aurels in
games with outside teams. Each wore gym
shirt upon the blue or black field of which
cleaned big white monogram intwining the
letters elk" To this crest is to have
won the highest honor that an evening play centre
give.
Each OF the thirty-four clubs of the play centre
has basketball team, and representatives from
all meet in matched games every Friday evening.
Nine Of contests with outside organizations
have been won by teams Of No. 100. Teams from
the Adelphi College, Of Brooklyn; from Newark,
the Young Mems Christian Association and a well
known private uptown school were among those
who were defeated. The Russian Jew element is
strong In No 100 and most Of the boys are conse-
uuently small. but 1.-THE and muscular. AS re-
sut of the regular gymnastic drills, which all
have twice a week, the boys improve in figure.
carriage and manners. One OF the leading gym
nasts of this country, after a visit to the gym
nasium OF No 16o, declared that the East Side boys
he saw there were the best built, the best devel-
oped and the strongest boys he had ever met. The
life and open air existence Of the children
said TO account in part for what would seem
paradoxical, since they are brought up rule,
frugal means and in unsanitary tenements.
Not few of the boys perform feats that do
credit circus artists little fellow of fourteen
years. Office boy by day, has walked sixtyfve
yards on his hands. One of the boys who
bore the nickname Greene" because they could
speak English have put to their ridiculers
by skilful athletic exhibitions learned in the Old
Country. In contests with boys of prosperous fam
lies greater endurance and strength invariably
shown by the East Siders.
A little fellow who is known Chicken" be-
cause of his drninutive size and who is OF the
most indefatiga Bile and ambitious workers of the
centre, asked what time he went TO work in
the morning. "Oh. get up about $50 o'clock, and
begin work at 7 o'clock be said carelessly and
I don't get TO bed before y o'clock"
Chicken" enduring fame in his neighbor-
hood by the mishaps which befel him in a single
morning. He spinning his top the roof of
five story building. and in effort TO catch the
toy fell from the roof Fortunately. his downward
progress impeded by labyrinth of clothes
lines, and he landed unhurt. but with emphasis. in
a baby carriage But before Chicken" could make
his escape the owner of the carriage. enraged be-
he had broken ii, rushed upon him and gave
him a sound whipping
The game in this. in all the other eleven
play centres is open freely to any boy who comes
in from the street. The rules of the building are
few and simple There must be no swearing no
gambling and smoking.
space in the gymnasium is limited and only
members Of the boys clubs admitted there.
The gymnasium is under the direction of Frank L.
Tyson. who while giving little direct advice as
TO conduct makes Of the opportunity to sug-
gest various reforms. The smoking habit among
boys Mr.. Tyson decries. When a lad gets OF
breath and shows exhaustion. Mr.. Tyson asks,
do you smoker II the reply is yes il
usually is. he says: 81 do Lot smoke. and I could
work here all night and not get out Of breath "
The result OF this influence has been marked. for
many Of the boys have given up smoking.
The clubs organized and managed entirely
by the members, but supervised by Walter
Fairchid, director OF the centre. It the read
ing Of the Jackson Pleasure Clubs constitution by
Mr.. Riis which enlisted his interest in the school,
The evident familiarity with the constitution OF
the United States and the broad and ethical lines
which extend beyond the borders Of the club life
ave him great pleasure. The following is a copy
Of the document. which has edited by
'1mpious grownups":
Constitution OF the Jackson Pleasure Club.
Evening Recreation Centre P. S. No. 16o. New York
City
We the boys Of the ]. P. c. in order to form a
perfect club establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common defence. We
Of liberty to ourselves and our descendants to es-
tablish the Constitution for the ]. P. c.
No boys can be members who less than thir-
teen years and must be from the It'll Grammar on
NO member can be President Vice-President
Al officers will keep their term six months
me Officers can not commit law until 1t is passed
passed by votes. By this I mean that II Sc OF
me members pass it is passed II II is passed it is
several committees are appointed to look over
tnsse rules which seldom happen the streets.