The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1903-01-11
URGES FOOTBALL
ASG0OD FOR BOYS
{. G. Robson of the Y. NJ. C. A.
Praises the Game
AND TALKS OF TRAINING
TELLS WAYS TO KEEP YOUTHS
FRO EVIL INFLUENCES.

solution to the boy problem and
/ how to develop them into Christian
citizens. was offered by Z. G. Robson.
international secretary of Y. NJ. c. A.
I boys. work, in a talk delivered be-
fore the Woman's auxiliary of the To-
cal association, yesterday afternoon.
The sum and substance of Mr.. Robi-
son's remarks was that the only So
luton to the boy problem was to keen
them busy doing something that would
result not only in good to themselves
| but to others
Mr. Robson addressed his remarks
( entirely TO the members of the Wo-
mans auxiliary. He said in part:
The most important point in the life
of man is that DOir. where he
changes from boyhood 10 manhood
about the age of Il years. Before the
age of u a boy is like a pitcher
Thoughts and suggestions are poured
INTO his head by father, mother and
every one he meets. He pays no at
tention to this mix sure at that time.
but when manhood begins to assert
itself he begins to cast away some of
these ideas and to hold fast to others.
Then is when the ideas, thoughts and
habits of his life are being formed.
1t is a most critical point and upon
What is done then depends the future
of the man.
Must BE Given Work.
AT this age a boys heart almost
doubles its size and the blood sent
coursing through his veins makes him
excessively active and energetic. This
energy must find some vent. The proper
thlnC TO do is TO set him to work 90
ing something that viii broaden his
mind and thoughts, that VIII make
him lose sight of self-interest and look
more to the interests of others.
Very often, though, it is at this
time that the active youth alta .hes
himself to a gang-boys all know
what gang is. Sometimes these {
gangs are banded together for good. |
but more frequently it is for bad. and [
the influence of this gang is never lost |
on the boy No matter what mother /
or fat\ar says. if the gang says some (
thing else, the opinion of the gang is !
supreme.
Praise For Football.
The gang spirit is good and serves !
a good purpose when the thoughts and /
influences of the sang are directed IN |
the right way. You have no idea what (
a good influence the game of tooth III |
has upon boy The gang spirit there +
IS fine. 1t develops courage mani
ness and broad mindedness. Tor in
that game the fight is not made. for
Individual victory but gang victory,
thus self interest is lost sight of il the
interest of the gang OF others
would rather have my bow deal from
playing football than to have him such
a coward he would be afraid to play
the game. Of course, football like
any other game, can be abused aud m !
played, then it ceases to be
good.
AZ have some .L.,+ - I
hat the majority of boys who become
manifest the criminal ten
1encles between the ages of u ard IS
years. and likewise those who become
good and religious workers become
nat way between the same ages That
S the time when the boy is SuIl of
energy and must go one way OF the.
)ther. +
IAN idle boy is the devils Gistil.e-y.
4 you want TO send boy to hell. tusC
keep him idle. You can't tell a boy +
% sit still and be good-he wont Go
t. To keep him good you must keep
linn busy doing good
Must Be Interested.
The only way you can save the boys
II this city from the evil influences
hat surround them, and the only way
o assure the future of this city, is to
ret the boys interested in some Chris
ian work-dOing something that is
'ood. | find from your census that | s
-ou have between 400C and 900 bows
ERE. What becomes of them and the
uture of Salt Lake depends upon what
.ou do for them in the way of getting .
hem interested in some good work.
wish it might be possible that a man I
ould be secured 70 devote his entire {
ime to looking after the boys of this
ity' ,
At 1880 D. m. today, Mr.. Robson win ]
cal further with the same subject at 4
meeting for men only.
Secretary c. S. Warde will speak in
he First Presbyterian church tonight I
n Y. NJ. c. A work. :