New-York tribune., 1907-05-19
THE BIG BROTHERS.
Ncu Way to Do Good among
City Boys.

Spike had escaped from nearby reforrna'oFy'
where lie owed small matter Of eleven monlhs
10 the state, and didn't know exactly what 10 90
with himself. He couldn't go home ano lie
didn't want to go back He sought the au'ioe
Of Red" on whom sentence had once been suS-
pended.
see me big brudder." was REDS aoVice.
s. Ike liked the idea. and said he wouio can On
"Hed's" brother that night at the family tene-
mont
He amt there" said Red" He ain't really
me brudder. He's Mr. Coulter down In the K,oS
court He looks after me-
Kids. court?' said Spike. mot for mine!
Hen send me back"
Tut Red" argued that he wouldn't. and Spike
finally went down and had example of the
working OF the Big Brothers. Mr.. Coulter found
that Spike had run away because his mother
was sick and there were two or three children
70 take care OF. Spike had found work and was
turning in his pay at home. Then began nego-
tiations with the reforInatory. The Big Brother
l7ew what would happen-that Spikes sem
fence would be commuted to one month-but all
cDiBe was told was that if he surrendered him
self before a certain day the authorities would
see what they could do. Spike thought it over
and gave himself up on his own hook A month
later he free. Meanwhile. the Big Brothers
had looked after Spikes family and a job for
Spike was waiting for him.
This incident. which sounds suspiciously like
fiction, is a bare statement of actual facts II
IS one Of Z series Of similar accidents which have
led small group Of men who as individuals
were taking charge of and "brothering'' a few
boys who had had trouble with the law to or
ganize movement known as the Big Brothers,
which should systematically take charge of all
Protestant boys whose cases had been settled by
the courts This movement was finally organ
lied a short time ago after series of meetings
he'd in the West Side Young Mems Christian
Association. members and officers of which had
expressed a wish TO take part in the work It
was found at that there would be no diff
Guilty in securing enough men, glad to do such
work to give each boy individual Big Brother
Pans were then perfected TO secure the CO.
operation % all the Young Mems Christian As
sociation branches and many mems societies
and to establish facilities for gymnasium and
ether amusements for the boys in every district
in the city where needed
In order 10 make sure that each Big Brother
vas not neslecting the boy assigned to him
system of records which keep the central body
constantly in touch with each case was devised
and put into operation, the Young Mems Chris
tan Association agreeing to supply the neces-
sary secretarial force. 1t was determined. also.
to establish Z system Of instruction which would
teach Big Brothers how TO handle their cases
successfully. Officers were then elected as fol-
lows: Ernest X Coulter, Of the Childrens
Court chairman; Luther H. Lewis. vice-presi-
cent; Charles l. Insea. secretary and c Rob
ert Langenbacher, treasurer
The ambitions OF this Big Brother idea, now
organized into a society with definite work. are.
according TO the Big Brothers Ietterhead:
If you believe that a boy in the open is better
than boy il jail, you are in sympathy with the
Big Brothers If you believe that boy unaided
cannot always overcome the tendency OF unfort-
Unate environments. OF be happy and good with
out any OF the things which make for happ-
iness and goodness. you concur in the Big
Brother platform. If you willing to 90
something yourself 10 help boy-as good Big
Brother would-to be happy and TO become use
ful you are a Big Brother. And supply
the very boy who needs you h, brother him a