New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-11-21
REDEMPTION OF BILLY"
Touching Episode in Life of a George
Junior" Boy.

Despite the perennial deficit in our treasury"
said President T. ". Osborn, Of the George Junior
Republic, smiling. the year just closed has been
one Of the successful in our history"
The annual meeting Of the George Junior Re
public Association. with the New-Tork City
Woman's Aid, was held yesterday afternoon in the
lecture room Of the Collegiate Reformed Church
We really the most eZtravagantly healthy
community know continued Mr.. Osborn, and
We seem to be getting more year after year.
we've spent a good many more hundred dollars
Tor food this year but we've fallen behind Ss3 on
medicine. We've increased the salaries Of our
skilled teachers. for felt that couldn't afford
10 have any less than the best And now we
come before you with shortage Of $4,000. but /
Ie4Iy can't say that I am sorry. for every
penny Of IL virtually into character building"
AF. Osborne then went on to give what he called
ule character statistics"
whereas. IN the last report. g per cent Of our
| graduates distinctly not successes suppose
We might call them failures though I dislike that
"oro-this year the percentage is reduced TO go.
ana since the I3 per cent report number Of those
1hen believed to be failures have right about faced
aIo are now doing finely There seems TO be some
Thing about life the republic that gets into the
nore OF the boys that spend any time there. and
sooner or later II tells And I Ike TO think that
eTen while sit here and 90 the statistics
perhaps some Of these in the failure column
Climbing over into the success list. Twenty Of
graduates have married during the last year and
sInaoSt without exception they have indicated the
republics teachings in the wisdom OF the choice
they have made This test seems to me supreme
one Of a boys character"
4 won't talk long this afternoon Mr. George
sale when he stepped upon the platform; that is
III try not to; but I'll just tell you. when begin
TO talk about those boys and girls Of up there
IN Freeville it's hard know when to stop. We've
got the finest set in the wide world But there.
III just tell you this one story and then III stop
IL happened last January, and I don't believe in
al my life I've had anything to touch that
did
Billy. the boy who brought II all about had
never been a favorite with the citizens. He was
bright and socabIe enough. but there seemed to be
something sly and tricky about him, and e didn't
make lasting friends. He there some time had
MS ups and downs-prtncipaly Cowns-and, though
he tried hard to make himself popular, often fax
ing virtues that he didn't own. he didn't get On
very well. and last made up his mind TO leave
He stopped in Auburn awhile, and then came
to New-York. where he lived a pretty wild life
for while. But at last I got a very honesick
letter from him. and he begged come back to the
republic. he said he would 60 his very best to be
a good citizen, If would take him back again.
and the first thing he asked when he came was.
Daddy do you trust nOwT CThey call
daddy. you know) I felt ought to be frank with
him. I told him I said I would try TO, but
did not fuIIy-yet.
six months passed, and Billy had become a
model citizen There still something about
him that wasn't perfectly open. but there wasn't
shasow on MS good name. and felt the ban ought
Z a
4rshp to the Freeve High School to be given, and
determined Billy should have it So one morning
sJ5 NV, wouIc prove II by GIVING tne s.noIsTsnlD
f8Lf nm net one OF the s9ys hao ey USstsa
promised he would not De the first
We'll at our next presidential election Billy
was the unanimous candidate OF all the pOlitlca!
parties. It the proudest day IN his lie. But
augurai dance BIZ disappeared and didn't see
him during the rest OF the evening But early the
told me Billy wanted ne I went to him. and
don't want S to I've, he began; + can't stand it
Promise you'u forgive NE and then III tell you
story came out. Just before he went to the high
school ne had eonniyed at the purloining Of some
get about it, and thought II ne once got to be
it in clean living later. But it was no use. What
seemed to hurt him most was that he had be-
thought I would give him final test I
he Other bo gs Pgoated that the Incident t was
known but that to save the republic ana its pTesi-
looked me sQUarely in the eyes. Daddy he said
you I know that wouldn't DO; I! would be crawling
so he had his way. and all the citizens were
suffer as that boy did Remember, the republic
vas MS WoFid; ossrace befors It's citizens meant
facing the bltterest trial that can come TO sensi
a re b9s osf bsrIaTsd his I0y Fr ah9
sembiance Of these III never forget that morning
As he told his story, stammeringly ard stumblingy
S xay though he wls pale as death a2d once
or twice I thought he would fan, I watched the
faces Of the audience You could have heard q Din
drop but almost 70 a man his listeners were with
him There Is nothing like straightforwardness
and sincerity to bring out the nobility in others
you know.
When he rendered his resIgnati ton to the Secre-
tary Of State. that dignitsry sat like a log and
wouldn't touch the bit Of paper trembling in the
outstretched hand Then he surrendered himself
to the jailer but that Official might have been
made OF wood, for all the action he took Well I
know where I belong he said. and he staggered
over to the prisoners seats. And then a thing
without precedent happened in the republics an
mails. Every blessed one Of US Daddy, included
burst into tears and I don't know what would
have been the outcome II the Judge hadn't found
his voice. That he said. is what I call sandr
We'll. Billy served his term, despite unanimous
offers Of pardon. and he's free now but in ali the
history Of the republic. among ali the shining
lights OF our best citizens. don't believe anything
has had the lasting influence the character OF
the Erownups. well the citizens themselves.
that this boys honesty has. And now do you
ask what good the republic does?'
Psi Epsilon. Story about this big college fraternity
Pictures of prominent members See tO-mOrrow's
Tribune