The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-12-19
LOOKONSUNNY
SIDE, SOMMER
SAYS
Urges Boys CIul
Members Not TO Hug
a Crouch.

The rooms of the Newark Boys Club
were crowded last night with the mem
bers, because they had been notified
that they were going to be addressed
by Sheriff Frank H. Sommer, and
when that official was introduced to
them by Richard Harris, on the invi-
tation of superintendent Willis I.
Fox, the youths awoke the neighbor-
hood by their long and lusty cheers.
Mr.. Harris told the boys what great
things had been done in Essex County
since Sheriff Sommer took charge of
the county affairs. The sheriff had
to stand bowling to the applause which
greeted him for several minutes, and
his reception visibly affected the pop
ular official. In his address Sheriff
Sommer said:
MY friends. the boys was the way
the Sheriff began. I'm the past few years
| have addressed thousands and thousands
of men. but / never had that shaky feel
ing you call stageflight before" He then
continued ia part as follows:
OF all the lads / have met during the
last two years-some careless, others reck-
less; some Just tough and others addicted
to blowing coke" with whom the line
between truth and untruth had become
blurred and indistinct. and some who failed
g distinguish between. their property and
that OF. others-tliere is just one type OF
whom ] despair. That is the fellow with
the confirmed Crouch He seems TO
have been born with the notion that he
had no chance, and, growing up. has
Rugged this idea as a cherished thing. In
the daily grind he has let all nerve AMI
enthusiasm ooze out. lie is sour and
morose, and refuses to look on the sunny
You tell him how others situated as ne
Is have worked their way up, and his only
comment is. Just a lucky hit or He's Just
a lucky dog
You tell him OF the work that the world
is doing for the boys. through nelgl1borhood
Fairgrounds, recreation centres and boys
clubs. the establishment OF the probation
system and juvenile courts; how earnest
women and men are engaged in organized
effort to assure every boy q square deal
In life. and he sits back with a cynical
look upon his face, sullenly hugglng his
Crouch to his breast.
You can help a lad, no matter what his
fanlls or how many, in whom the spark
OF enthusiasm Is alive, for he has the will
You cannot help a lad who has a con-
1rmed crouch. for IN him the spirit of en-
thusfasm is dead and he lacks the win to
help himself.
From out OF my experience can dig
up for you no message more valuable than
this: Don't hug q crouch; look on the
sunny side Of life. for the dark will turn
up without hunting, and keep on doing
Your level best.
Il do not care how desperate your state
may be; tho your clothes may be Ia tat
tiers; tho meal time means pulling the
belt buckle to another hole, and tho the
setting sun may simply be a signal fol
the beginning OF "A weary hunt for some
place to lay your head. l still say 10 you,
tho ! know how bitter and discouragins
the fight Is, don't Crouch, for out in The
wide world there is some place for YOU
and some one ready 10 lend a helping hand
Don't crouch; keep up your COURAGE.
You have been told. no doubt. time anC
again the life stories of men who, starting
under diseonraglng conditions of poverty
ave fought their way to the possession
az great wealth.
These stories carry their lesson. il
seems TO me, however. that they have Z
tendency to o~ver-emphasize the attainment
Of wealth as the measure OF success In life
and TO foster the spirit OF selflshiless
which in most Of MS is not a feeble plan
recurring the nourishment these tales af
ford.
a man may rise from direst poverty t
greatest wealth and yet by true stand
ards his life may be a failure.
mo mans life Is a success, no matter
how great the wealth he may Accumulate
or how high the heights he may reach IL
other directions, unless in his upward
climb he has lifted others with him."
, another outburst Of enthusiasm and whei
1t ceased Mr.. Fox rose and asked tina
every boy who was in favor of the great
est sheriff that not only this county, 0
any in the State. but my other State
ever had, would signify by saying Aye
in addition to his voice hoisied his RICH
hand. The Sheriff was much intereste'
when the boys sang the chorus of severa
popular airs.