Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-12
Big Brothers Of The Slura8.
A New York Organization Has Discovered the Secret
for Turning Youthful Criminals Into Good 4.
Citizens-Brotherng Bad Boys.

Red. Hes straight all right. and he got
me job. He's down at de court"
''G'wan he'll send me back said the
other, dsdainfully.
But Red persuaded him. Reds big broth
err happened to be Ernest coulter of the
chil6ren's court. and after Investigating the
escaped boy's story and finding 1t true, he
communicated with the governing board OF
the house of refuge, with the result that
that austere body decided to temper justice
with mercy. The runaway was persuaded
to go back. with the stipulation that he was
only to be detained month. Now he Is
back with his "mudder," he has big
brother of his own and lob" and is
working like Trojan to show his apprecia-
ton of the interest taken in him.
Though most of the Big Brothers find their
boys In tenement home, sometimes living
amid poverty and squalor. one big brother
had different experience. In hunting up
his 10y, the address brought him to a
handsome residence on Riverside Drive, and
a butler in livery answered his ring at the
door. The visitor decided, after leaving the
house, that this boy needed a big brother
more than nine-tenths of the tenement
children.
On following up another boy, who had
been arrested for throwing stones in the
street. a big brother found that he lived
in a damp cellar with elder brother who
was out of work. and his mother, widow
Of fragile constitution, who was drifting
into consumption from hard work. lack Of
fresh air and the general unhealthfulness
Of her surroundings. The big brother was
able to get positions for both the boys and
secure decent, light quarters for the family
to live In. The little brother is now get
ting an education and is developing into an
excellent draughtsman, as he Is handy with
his pen.
Another big brother recently took his
boy. who comes from the strenuous en-
virons known as Hells Kitchen, to the
Hippodrome. Before the curtain went UP
the youngster, who had never been to g
theatrical performance before, was greatly
interested In the orchestra, and the big
brother explained to him the functions of
the leader.
"Gee!" cried the boy. He must be
bigger than Teddy Roosevelt He must be
the greatest man in the world"
But more is done to interest the little
brothers than merely to take them to
shows The West Side Young Mems
Christian Association. which has been the
first Y. M. c. A. branch in the city to go
In for the Big Brothers movement, has de-
voted the use Of the gymnasium attached
TO It's Boys Club, one evening a. week, to
the little brothers. and seven other Y. NJ
c. A. gymnasiums aressoon to be similarly
opened to the boys, to take them off the
streets and afford opportunities for healthy
play. Few Of the youngsters had ever seen
a gymnasium before their opportunity was
offered. and the chance to do stunts on
the flying rings. parallel bars and horses
appealed to them Immediately Even the
shower baths became very popular-after
some preliminary baking. 80
The movement has started with Protes-
tant children. because they were most in
need. the Roman Catholic and Jewish or
ganizadons having thorough facilities to
care for boys Of their own faiths But the
movement Is expected to spread to all de-
nominations in the metropolis and its sue
cess Is believed tn he srnA ta co-,----A -
to organizations interested In philanthropic
work In other crowded cities. -