The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1906-01-26
IN BEHALF OF THE BOYS.

IN BEHALF OF TIE BO1Os
The Board of Directors of the Y. M.
O. A. have under consideration ques-
ton of considerable Importance; and
as the parents of Columbia are inter
ested we think it not improper to dis
cuss it publicly and for their benefit.
The question is, what privileges to al
low or to withhold from the boys be-
tween the ages of II and Is years.
Under the constitution they have no
right to vote and cannot hold Office;
but it has been further proposed to
bar them from the privileges of the
bowling alley, and the baths and the
rooms entirely, except two afternoons
in the week, when they may have the
exclusive privilege of the baths and
the bowling alley
, In behalf of the boys, and in the
interest of the Association, the Herald
wishes to enter its protest against that
solution of the question.
In the first place, under present con-
ditions, it would not be fair and just.
1t does not matter what may be the
rule elsewhere or the experience of
others, these boys, perhaps a hun
dred in number, have been solicited
to join and have given in their names
and paid in their money, under the
express understanding that they
should be treated pretty much If not
altogether as the older members. That
contract should be carried out in good
faith, or else in all fairness their
money should be returned to them.
In the second place, no such rule is
necessary. At present, while it is all
new, the alleys may be vrowded a lit
tie at times, but that will not last
long; and as long as it does last, the
men had just as well be inconvenience
ed and give way as the boys; we do
not see why the elder brother should
have any favoritism shown him over
the junior.
In the third place, the prime pur-
pose of this institution, as we under
stand it, is to get hold of the boy
while he is yet boy, and train him
in the way he should go. The best
time in life to do that , is from twelve
to eighteen years of age. 1t is be-
tween these very ages that a boy
needs more care and attention to keep
him from bad associations and bad
habits and bad thinking, than at any
other time in his life. The better part |
of his time is spent in the school |
room, fortunately; his evenings and |
nights, as a rule should be spent at |
home, but in the afternoons, after |
school, and during the vacation |
months, when he is not at home, shall |
he be turned out upon the streets four
days in the week to imbibe the miasma
from the cutters. and taken up twice |
a week and washed and cleaned and |
given a little exercise, and then turn
ed out on the streets again? Is that
getting hold of the boys? If that |
should become rule of the associa-
ton it would be a sore disappoint-
ment to all the boys, and to many par
ents who had hoped for help from this
Association, while their boys were yet
in the tender, formative period of
their lives
The parents, we believe, do not want
these young boys tempted away from
home at night, except upon special oc-
casions. 1t might be well, therefore,
to forbid the boys the use of the alley,
or the baths, or the rooms, after dark.
And that is the time when the men
will most want the use of the alleys,
the baths, and the rooms. Or during
when the boys have ample
time during the day to enjoy these
things, and the men have not, it might /
be just and fair to all parties to cut
the boys off and give the men the ex-
elusive privilege of the alleys and the
baths after six in the afternoon; but
further than that The Herald will and
does protest against any abridgemeat