The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-01-19
The Birmingham Boys Club Today
BY LOU HENDERSON.

m., and Saturdays from a. m. to g D. m. Hot water is furnished for their use Wednesdays and Saturdays during the winter and the bath room is open to them every week day during the spring, summer and fall months
 The dormitory Is used as a tempo rary home for the homeless lad and as shelter to the wandering boy, as well as being a place for the messen- gers and other working boys who are kept out too late to return to their homes. During the spring months q term of 12 weeks of the night school was carried out with an enrolment of 17 students, six of whom were IA years of age and over. who could not write when they began. Another spring ses- sion is. now planned for not only the street boys, but an afternoon class for the bootblacks of the city. Teachers for these classes are volunteers.
 The recreation and reading rooms are always in constant use during the open hours and have proven to be haven of shelter and help to many of the unfortunate boys of the city. who know little or nothing of the uplifting influences of life. The boy-members feel that the club is theirs and often- times between editions of the papers
 
 be assigned to them, they may be found enjoying the privileges of this in- stitution that means so much to them. A large number of boys have been ta- ken from the influences of the street and placed in business positions, where, in the parlance of the gang, nearly everyone has made good" Other boys have been induced to start in the public schools 12 of the students of the club spring session now being public school students. Letters are on file in the office of the club from several lads placed in homes during the past year, all expressing great appreciation of the help and aid given them by the efforts of the organization in their behalf. Through the good offices of the club number of boys who were started on the path of ruin were reclaimed and placed in such institutions as would help them to overcome their weak CT tendencies.
 The superintendent was sent to the spring session of the state legislature where he labored in behalf of the ju- venile court law which was passed and recently repealed at the called session because of some defects which made it unconstitutional. The following ex- tracts 4rom letters sent to the super intendent show the great value of this department of the work.
 From Widowed Mother: About year ago my boy began to give me trouble. He wanted to stay out at night Had reached that age that all mothers dread. Was going down rapidly. You know nothing stands still in the moral world. Not long before ne lost several good positions.
 Had no friend he loved so well as the cigarette. Right there on that dangerous precipice my boy stood in the darkness of moral despair Deep down in his heart was that yearn- ing for all that was good and true.
 Right here the judge of the jul venile court and the superintendent of the Boys club stepped in and found him. With a glad hand they gave this life a new hope, glimpse of A better future, and bade him God speed. Today he stands a. living monument to this work. f. He was sent to the right kind of a school and is living the right life and trying to help oth CTS as helpless as he once was. Today there IS longing to forget his old self. to live for the best there is in him and 1t be- hooves all men to help bring before the unfortunate lad the good quali- ties in him. no matter how few or weak and help him to help himself"
 The Birmingham Boys club has been carried on by the board of control. con- ssting of the following ladies of the