Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-29

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| of the association. They were told that
| it was intended they should have a good.
! jolly time at the club at each OF it's
nightly meetings, and that they should
| try to be real boys, and do their duty as
| boys, because If they did some day they
would become good and perhaps great
| men.
Amused by Talking Machine.
| The talking machine was provided with
| many records, and was run, to the vast
| amusement of the youngsters. for nearly
an hour Mr.. Hooker operating it. A
mandolin club. under the direction of Mr..
| Frank p Howard, also furnished accept
| able entertainment.
During the evening the candy was dis
| tributed and 1T was enjoyed as only little
boys can enjoy candy at Christmas time
as WAS as betokened by the happy faces of
| nuts were kept until just before the de-
| parture of the members, since it was
| feared by the committee entertain
ment Miss Marguerite Dupont Lee, chair
| man, that the floor would be Uttered
| with the shells and make great amount
| Shortly after 8 o'clock all were gone,
! happy and contented, gladdening the hearts
| of the men and women who are carrying
| on the enterprise, all feeling they were al
ready successful in it.
| The club has grown until its membership
| is as large as it's accommodate tons will at
| present allow. Every evening except Sun
| days the hall is open from until o o'clock,
| during which time the superintendent,
| librarian and doorkeeper present.
| Games of all kinds and boys books are
| there for the members amusement and in
| struction.
/ The Average Attendance.
| Up to the present time the average att
| tendance each evening has been seventy
| five members, and the directors say that
| some of the boys are beginning to manifest
| a personal interest in the club, and have
obi 10
| bilities in connection with it's management.
The three officers who remain through
| out every meeting are salaried. because
| their work is hard, it having been neces-
| sary more than once to quell a disturbance
| of warlike nature on the floor. Volun-
| teer helpers are needed, and it Is hoped by
| the promoters of the movement that some
| persons interested in lettering the condition
| of the boy of the street will offer his or her
| services for night or two week.
First of the Clubs.
| This is the first of the group of boys
clubs which the newly organized Washing
ton Boys Club Association hopes to estab-
I lish in this city, 1t was opened at 31st
and NJ streets northwest several weeks
ago. The superintendent in charge is Mr..
| J. 2. Yoder, and Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
| Butler are doorkeeper and librarian, re-
| spectively. The members of the board Of
| directors are Prof. John w. Chickering,
| PRESIDENT, tTOI. James f1OWdIu VICE
| president: Eugene e. Stevens, secretary;
| Mrs. Giles s. Rafter, treasurer; Mrs. Mar
| garet Dupont Lee and Mr.. Albert N
| Prentiss.
| The club already has 240 boys enrolled.
| The first public announcement issued by
| the Boys Club Association gives the OBJ
| jects of the clubs follows:
THE problem of reducing to the minimum
| the recruiting of the criminal classes from
the rising generation is one especially
meriting the serious consideration of the
| thoughtful members of every urban COM
munity. One means of counteracting the
| evil influences that assail poor and neglect
| ed children, reared commonly in moral and
| material surroundings wretched and de-
| grading in character and menace to So
| ciety is the Boys Club. Under the aus
| pices of the National Boys Club Associa-
| ton of Massachusetts the Washington Boys
| Club Association has been organized, and
the first club of the local body esta blished
at 31st and NJ streets (Georgetown)-other
clubs In localities not covered by any SINH
lar work to follow soon as support and
workers are provided by the people Of
| Washington. This work should and will be
/ carried on in cooperation with the Y, M.
/ C. A uses and Junior Republic movement
as far as practicable, and in perfect har-
mony with the plans and purposes of those
older philanthropies.
Absolutely Free to Boys.
''The club is absolutely free to the boys
| of the class it seeks to reach, and is open
each evening except Sunday from Z to
| pm. A salaried superintendent, with two
assistants, doorkeeper and librarian, are
| in charge. At present games and books are
| provided, and other methods of amuse-
| ment, as well instructive employment
| will follow as the work develops and means
| are provided The enrolment quickly pass
| ed the century mark and has now reached
| 1876, with additional enrolments each even
| ing. Visitors will be cordially welcomed
| and volunteer workers-readers, reciters
| story tellers and instrumentalists at this
| time-doubly
| '"It is estimated that between 50 and So
| will provide for a boy for a year in the club
| VIII you not provide for a boy2 1t may
be the making of a worthy member of the
| community instead of loafer and criminal
Better still, take two or more boys as your
share by subscribing IS or more, thereby
| becoming, under our bylaws, a member
| of the association and adding the moral
support of your name to the substantial
| recognition you give to the work.
ALLOW us to hope that you will not per-
nit this great cause to go unaided, If you
can contribute any sum, however insignif-
cant 1t may seem to you In no field of use
| Is the adage that IAN ounce of prevention
fs worth a pound of cure" more important
boys!
KINDLY forward cash contributions to the
financial secretary, Mr.. William Haywood
1712 / street northwest, to whom checks
should be made payable"
Promoters Of the Enterprise.
Those to whose substantial support the
city il indebted for the establishment OF
this important work are the following
ladies and gentlemen: Mrs. Francis B.
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