The Richmond palladium. (Richmond, Ind.) 1906-1907, 1907-02-17

A letter which aroused consider
able interest among those present
was read at the meeting of the vari
4 Gus Y. NJ. c. A. committees last Mon
| day night. The writer, Edward J
Dingley was born and raised in Rich
nond, and graduated here in 1902
He is the son of Alfred Dingley, OF
North Seyenteeth street, and is now
! employed in the establishment of the
Victor Talking Machine company at
Camden, y. J. His letter was &C
| companied by a pledge for s25. The
communication was as follows:
Camden, n. j., U. S. A., Feb. Z, '07.
Prof. w. S. Hiser, Richmond, Ind,
My Dear Mr.. Hiser:
/ have been trying to answer your
letter for some time, but have not
found the opportunity. Being new
in this business, l have many things
to learn, and what spare time l have
outside of the office / spend in read
ing and study that will be beneficial
to me, consequently / always have
SOiuelHluS 10 10.
/ take a Richmond daily paper and
have been watching with keen in
terest the progress that you are max
ing in your campaign for a Y. NJ. G..
A. The people of Richmond do not
realize what they are missing with
out such an institution, and if they
could see the Y. NJ. G. A. as l have
seen it, there is no doubt as to the
result.
Since | have left my paternal roof
the Y. NJ G.. A. has been home to me-
first became affiliated with this
body in Seattle, Wash. In this far
away western city they are doing a
great work. While | was in that
city, young men were coming in from
the eastern states by every train,
and as the first arrivals filled most
of the positions, many a young man,
flushed with the hope of making a
fortune in the west, was filled with
despair when he arrived and found
no ready employment. Here is where
the Y. NJ. G. A. did their work. They
were a friend to all corners here
the young man found home, an adj
wiser and help in all his troubles.
Here he found an honest employ
ment bureau that would stand by ev-
cry deserving man until he had some
He was directed to a
place where he could find a room
at reasonable rates, and in proper
More than this, he
found friends. companions and so
cial life that is necessary for every
young man, and which he will have.
If there is no " NJ. c. A. in which
to find it. he will go, other places to
get it, ana which often prove his
downfall.
We had our gymnasium, baths, |
swimming pool, games, readingroom,
class rooms, debating club, orchestra, |
and glee club, and, with such an as
,ortment of attractions no young man
has a chance to be lonesome, and has I
10 excuse to dole his time. More I
han this, we could meet in the rest /
ng rooms, form new acquaintance
md have a good social chat. | think |
met men from almost every state /
n the Union. The young man from I
Boston took plunge in the pool with |
he Hoosier, and the Chicago man
played basket ball with the man from
Texas.
The spirit of good fellowship is a
eature that impresses me very much.
md which draws the men toward the
Z. M. G. A.
Every Wednesday evening we had
,ur dinner at the association build.
ne, after which we would have some
music and a good social time, in
which the new conner, to use slang
was given the glad hand"
nd learned that in the Y. NJ. c.. A. he
lad found a friend.
They did not have dormitories i'll
seattle at that time, but new build
ne was under way which provided
or rooms for the boys and restau
ant. which would make the institu-
ion so complete that a man would t;
OF have to leave the building eX- (,
ept as his work called him.
Along this line the boys were do
ne much good work. The older ,
lembers would organize boarding .
lubs Shortly after my arrival in /:
hat city one of the boys gathered to- I
ether nine of us who were late ar /
ivals, and the ten organized and l
ented a house, hired house-keeper
nd had a home of our own, and by
nus cooperating we maintained our '
expenses. If you have ever boarded '
way from home. you will appreciate
lie value of this. 1t was a branch l
[ the Y. NJ. c. A. work and bore good '
.uit. / knew of one club of about {
members who had every I
man would want. S
On Thanksgiving day, 1905. a dim I
er was given by the wives and lady i
lends to the association officers and i
rectors. which proved very interest p
q to me as well as profitable. In
tations were sent out and all who a
ere to attend sent in card, giving Il
e name, native state and date of
rival in Seattle. We were seated in
cups accordingly. and during the :
asts a statement was given out
hich was about as follows:
There were seventy-four present
twenty-four states and :