Los Angeles herald., 1907-08-11
To Help Waits of a Big City


floor of the block in which the associa-
tions quarters are located, and do va
rious stunts on the apparatus which is
at hand. The manly art" is also en-
couraged, and contests are held between
the best fighters. This athletic work ac-
complishes more in the way of keeping
the boys occupied and away from evil
associates than Anything the association
does
Every Saturday night a grand rally is
held. A spread is served to the boys and
various prominent citizens are called upon
to address them on interesting topics.
The boys are entertained with music and
then as a fitting climax spirited boxing
contest is pulled off," The religious side
of the work is not neglected, although it
is of necessity made less important fea-
ture. These boys are not Sunday school
boys. Nevertheless a Bible class is held
once a week and considerable interest is
shown in it by many of them.
The bodily comforts of these boys is of
far more Importance than their spiritual
welfare, and recognizing that the associa-
ton provides free suppers for the home
less newsboys. Every day after they have
sold their afternoon papers they can come
to the clubrooms, partake of sandwiches
and hot coffee, and afterward take part In
whatever is scheduled for the evening be-
fore going to bed. Oftentimes they like
to take little rest during the day, and
the club rooms offer better place than
anything else they can find. They are
able to wash up" and refresh themselves
and then start forth with renewed vigor
to separate the good citizens of Cleveland
from their pennies.
The Boys Best Friend
Mr.. Alden is in the associations rooms
several hours each day, and boys can
come to him for, advice and assistance
when they meet with misfortune and
trouble. There is no one in Cleveland
who understands boys better than Alden,
and surely no one who likes them better.
His kindly advice has been the making of
hundreds of boys, and as he is a friend
in time of need he has won the gratitude
as well as the respect of the small army
of boys with whom he has come in con-
tact He tides them over little financial
difficulties, taking their notes without in
terest, and in cases of sickness or acct
dent sees that they are well taken care of.
Finding positions and homes for these
boys takes q great deal of his time, and
there is rarely day in which he does not
work at least twelve or fourteen hours.
He keeps in touch with all the firms and
business houses that want boys, and also
with the various institutions that care for
homeless boys. He makes frequent visits
to the cheap lodging houses in the downs
town district to discover what boys are
there, and If they have evil companions
to take them away and put them among
better surroundings.
All this work takes time, but it's i'm
portance can hardly be overestimated. In
his efforts to break up bad associations
Alden has had scores of fights with the
toughest "roughs'' In Cleveland. They re-
scented his interference, and on three oc-
casions he was nearly killed while trying
to rescue boys from dangerous men. In
his younger days Alden was one of the
best fighters in the city, and when he
gets into a fight all he asks is that his
opponent fight fair. After he had licked
half a dozen of the toughest 'roughs'' he
won their respect. and he is seldom at
tackled today.
Chief Kohler has given Alden assistance
in his work, and scores of men who have
preyed upon these unfortunate boys of
great city have been arrested and given
long terms in JAIL Alden has the powers
of regular detective, and nearly a score
of the older boys have done valuable gkrv-
ice in aiding him in running human vul-
lures to earth.
| Hundreds of the boys that have been
| helped by the association in it's earlier
years are now strong, self-reliant men,
occupying good positions and a credit to
the city. They are doing much to aid
Alden in his work, for they realize what
the association has done for them.