The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-06-02
YOUNG S. P. c. A. RECRUITS.
4 IBHOUSE PLANNED FOR
CHAMPIONS or ANIMALS.
n I, Proposed TO Adopt Social Settlement
Methods in Teaching Children 10 De
Kind TO Dumb Beasts Thousands Of
children Already Engaged In the Work.

Tho Woman's Auxiliary OF the American
c.oe,v for the Prevention of Cruelty to
Inimals is planning 10 adopt social settle
.n,nt methods in converting the street boy
into a champion Of animals.
.ve,t fall" said Mrs. Cadwalader Jones,
,,ssident Of the auxiliary. to a Sun reporter,
we expect to open quarters somewhere on
,he lower East Side where the street urohin
and the tenement cat abound. These will
Ina in the nature of a small clubhouse.
probably we will get q floor in n Of
m. did houses which nave not yet been
,,rr down 70 make room for a factory or
, bp tenement. II would be Moe II we
,orId got = place with some historic signi6-
corce. If we went TO Cherry Hill We might
and a house that had some definite assooia-
ton with Washington.
This we will make the camping ground
for the small boy OF the neighborhood.
We will have plenty Of games and books
m compete with the attractions OF the
rreet. The place will be furnished attract
rysly. with an informality which is imposs-
bic in the schools.
The children will be taught to treat the
place we'll as proprietors. There will be
lectures on kindness TO animals and their
rroper ca re and treatment, and every mem
her Of the club will take the pledge Of the
Young Defenders League, which reads:
I hereby apply for membership in the
Young Defenders League of the American
society for the Prevention Of Cruelty to
Animals and pledge myself that l will be
kind 10 animals and assist the society in
protecting them
You see a great many children in the
Sums keep pets. Many a two room
enement fat has in its family a dog or cat.
Even pigeons and guinea pigs are found.
Children are the same in the city as in the
country and they have the natural instinct
for companionship with animals.
But in the cramped quarters OF these
POOR homes many of these pets suffer ter
ribly through the ignorance Of their little
masters. We will have a special colleo-
ton of books about animals and Wen
have naturalists talk to the boys from time
10 time.
Then the children will be encouraged
to collect stories they see about animals
in the ne wspaper and to make a club scrap
book Of them. Children enjoy reading
true animal stories. They like them better
than fairy tales.
Then there will be excursions TO the
Aquarium and the Bronx Zoo. We may even
be able 70 turn them loose for a day in
the real country with a naturalist who
can teach them about birds and insects
in their own homes instead Of behind barred
cages. Just think how this would enlarge
the perceptions of the child who IL brought
up on fire engines and poolroom raidsl
''By no means the least function OF the
from cruelty. The children will keep on
the lookout for i'll treated horses and will
report them to the club director, who will
in turn confer with the s. P. c. A. and the
cases will be investigated.
"The members win carry regular club
notebooks in which to record these inoi-
dents. They will put down the time and
the place and the license number, or else
the owners name and address. Cases OF
cruelty to other animals will be noted too;
be demonstrated with. Stray animals will
bA taken to the Shelter. ! expect that
neighborhood will be a haven for animals.
III this is a success, as we have every
reason to expect II will be, we expect TO
start similar clubs in other neighborhoods.
At present the question Of funds is an
important one. Such a club will cost
$500 a year, and all our funds for our first
venture are not yet In hand.
Miss Evans who II IN charEe OF tne
great deal can be done through the public
schools in educating the children to be kind
to animals. Public School 7, at Chrystie
and Forsyth streets, had a kindness to
success. TIE children gave ~recitations
about animals and an address was delivered
about a child's duty to animals. II would
be nice if all the schools would institute
such a day"
the Society for the Prevention OF Cruelty
10 Animals, was performing an ambidex-
trous feat OF handing out membership
. cards and badges to Young Defenders.
Saturday afternoon Is my rush season.
on a settee by her desk. -The children
begin TO come early in the morning and
wait around all day until the doors are
open at 3 o'clock. The children come from
all over, from Mulberry street TO 18TH
street.
Here is a boy from Jersey City, and this
voungster gives his address as Yonkers.
Last Saturday we had 500 new members,
and ! don't know how many cards have
been signed to-day. There are no fees
of course on a day like this I don't have
much time for polite conversation with
my members" eaid Miss Evans as the chill
dren poured by In a steady stream, but
Srdinarjly We don't have more than a
e chance for personal attention.
The league wal started in 1900 by Mr..
hAines and 1t has nearly $1,000 members
now, 90 naturally anything hke q regular
meeting is imposSble. But a great many
d the children drop In often to see me
here and ] know hundreds OF them.
am always meeting them on the street.
ioften hear them say 70 their friends, Date
de teacher Of de Young Defenders, seei
i you don't quit t'rowing stones at de oats
she'll run you In This morning VI was
crossing Eighth avenue one Of my young
friends ran up TO me and said:
Say, Miss Evans, did you get the letter
l wrote you yesterday
i said IL nae not arrived yet, ~whersupcn
% told me about finding an animal shop
mat was badly kept. ! went around with
him - see IL and !ound that cats and dogs
and birds were housed together In q small
space with no ventilation, They were all
Sckly and unhappy looking and the. con-
dltions seemed very unsanltary. re-
ported the place Immediately and IL will be
looked into by Our ofioerB.'
L was at this moment that q small boy
With q largo and diabolioal black cat was
sen making his way through the crowd OF
children.
Say, Miss Evans he sang out, lis this
at bad enough 20 take 70 the Shelterf 1
iound a man trying to drown her In de