Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-06-25

NEW YORK June 20 1907
The largest club In the world and one Of
the most unique of all social organizations
occupies a fve-story fre-proof white brick
building Tompkins square, at the cor
ner of 10th street and Avenue A, New York
city. which the center of fashionable
life seventy-five eighty years ago. but
Is now occupied by densely populated tene-
ments of mechanics and ,laborers of the
better class. 1t Is called the Boys Club
1t is thirty-one years old, and has men,
bership of 10000, more or less, the youngest
member being seven years old and the old
est forty-three. The average age of the
members is about sixteen years. The older
chaps, or the Seniors as they are called
are veteran members who have been con-
nected with the club from it's earliest days
and still go there occasionally with the
deepest interest.
The origin and purpose Of the club, as
described by Mr.. D. H. Ledgard. the as
sstant superintendent is Ito provide the
boys of this part of New York with healthy
recreation of a character that will make
them prefer the club to the streets and sa-
looms, and it's origin was due to a few
young who hired a room thirty-two
years ago for them to play in Since then
Its development has been gradual but sure.
We do not attempt any religious or educa-
tional work. The club is exclusively for
recreation. The building cost about $780,
0O3 and was built by Mr.. E. H. Hartman
and presented to the corporation with the
land upon which it stands. Mr.. Hartman
takes an active interest in the club, always
attends the entertainments given by the
boys and has frequently helped very
generously when in financial difficulties
''Harriman's Fad"
Mr.. Hartman is the president of the
club; the vice presidents are Philip T.
Dodge and William w. Skiddy; the treas
urer is Eliphalet N. Potter, and the sec
rotary is H. 8. Brooks, jr.-all men well
known on the stock exchange. The SUI
perintendent is an Englishman, Mr..
Francis H. Tabor, a graduate Of Cam
bridge University. who came here thor
oughly equipped for his work after sew
eral years of experience among the boys
of the east end of London. Mr.. Tabor is
a genius a genius of great versatility.
He can organize, train and conduct an
opera company, an orchestra and brass
band; he is a master athlete and an in
structor of physical culture; ne Is an
expert photographer, a carpenter. builder
and gardener, and a leader of boys
he is wonder
f. The president of this club is also pres
ident of the Southern Pacific and the
Union Pacific railways and has acquired
considerable notoriety in connection with
certain proceedings of the interstate COM
merce commission and the Department
OI JUSTICE at washington. on w all street
they will tell you that this Is "Harri-
mans fad. and, If you will ask him,
did a few days ago. what interests
him most of all the business ne is en-
Mr. Hartman was a boy himself once,
but was never allowed to enjoy the
pleasures of the average boy. He had to
work for a living. He went into a
brokers' office as a messenger when he
was fourteen years old, and has been
working from twelve to eighteen hours
a day ever since. He never had any time
to play; he never had any amuSements.
He got his education on the street, and
probably knows as much any man
who ever lived about the methods Of
stock speculation; but while other boys
were at play he had to work. and he
has never forgotten that deprivation. 1t
is the keenest regret of his life, and
that accounts for the great interest he
takes in boys
Club for Recreation Only.
That explains his connection with the
Boys Club, which. as Mr.. Ledgard says,
is for amusement exclusively. There is
no education or religion or moral in
struction or lessons Of any Sort and
every boy Is welcome, regardless Of
race. religion. age, color or previous con-
dition. He Is required to pay a small
Initiation fee and nominal membership
dues to give him a sense of proprietor
ship, and to take off all the odor of
charity. and he pays for every thing else
that he gets Nothing is free. but the
can buy a cup Of coffee at the restaurant
for cents and a sandwich for / cent,
and get pretty fair sort of a dinner
for 10 cents. and when he goes down to
the clubs seashore camp he is required
to pay for his ticket-not much but
enough to satisfy his self-respect, and
distinguish him from all objects of
charity.
ANY boy who plays around Tompkns
Square may become a member of the Boys
Club. said Mr.. Tabor. About 10000 are
members. They find comfortable rooms in
which to play, a library full of books mag
azines and newspapers. gymnasium a
music room. restaurant and many ave-
nues to other pleasures that are always
open and always free as long as they be-
have themselves and act like gentlemen.
The club Is for amusement exclusively. At
the same time We teach the boys self-con-
troll self-government and business methods,
and develop their ability for organization
and management Of small affairs. We try
to convert the rough. raw material that
is floating around the streets of the East
Side into gentlemen, and try to guide our
members tactfully into the right paths 1t
Is not school nor reformatory. but We
recognize that character Is made or marred
by leisure occupations, home influences and
street associations.
of strength in the natures of its members.
and tries to foster and develop them. 1t
does not check but guides their love Of
sport. adventure and play. their capacity in
games. athletics, drawing. acting. music
singing. natural history. photography and
other things which interest boy. 1t teaches
him to play foot ball. base ball basket ball.
checkers. chess and every other kind Of
game without wrangling cheating. and
stimulates his ambition to excel. 1t de-
velops his musical ability. his perseverance
and his powers Of application by daily,
tedious, unremitting practicing for op-
" nff inp
prizes for the boys who can make the best
scores in games. who can run faster or sing
better, or draw more artistically than the
rest. No boy is compelled to do anything
The sense of duty Is not appealed to; tho
sense of pleasure Is cultivated to the high
est degree When q boy is under COM
pulsion everything drags: when he is
volunteer In a struggle for superiority
all that is good in him is aroused. And.
in these pleasures in this rivalry the boys
need care and guidance. advice and adj
monition which we try to give them, and
they know that they always have our SYM
pathy. They do not have to look very far