The Washington herald., 1908-03-26
BOYS CLUB STARTED
Quarters Chosen, Money Sub
scribed, Rent Guaranteed.
MANY SPEAKERS FAVOR PLAN
southeast Washington Organization
First of Many OF Sort Is Predicted.
Representatives Associated Chari-
ties, Fairgrounds Association, Re-
form school Indorse Scheme.


At a meeting held last night in the in
terests Of the establishment Of a club for
the boys OF the southeastern section Of
Washington about a hundred persons met
in Washington Hall. Third street and
Pennsylvania avenue southeast. and lis
tened 10 speeches by authorities on boys
and those interested in the movement.
c. l. Harding presided. In an intro
ductory speech, he said the necessity for
such club was manifest. and that il was
a movement TO improve the boys men
tally. physically. and morally. He showed
the tendency OF boys 10 stray on into
places where they should not go was only
too strong AS check TO this tendency.
the proposed club had every reason and
chance to succeed.
Quarters Are Chosen.
He announced that quarters had been
secured in a two-story building formerly
used for church purposes. on Virginia
avenue. near Firth street Mr.. Harding
assured the audience that with a few i'm
provements the building Will fll the pur-
pose exactly.
Voluntary help in the beginning, he
said. would be. looked for. 1t was evil
dent the club could run itself.
Miss Mary Green. of the Associated
Charities. said few words for the pro-
ject and claimed for the southeast, the
same and equal rights as the northwest
ern section OF the city.
She said the club would be the right
sort OF place for boys 20 develop along
the proper and best lines. Once get the
club going. she maintained. and there
would be no trouble getting boys. out
side help is all that is required. she held.
Northwest has received almost all that
it could wish for. The southeast should
get some substantial benefit that would
do plenty OF good with little trouble, Miss
Green urged.
She hoped the movement would make
the southeast boys club the center OF a
movement all over the city.
Rev. zed II. Copp said few words in
favor OF the project.
Miss Tawner Enthusiastic.
Miss Tawner. OF the Fairgrounds As
soeiation. said the club was just the right
thing for boys. She knew the names Of
a hundred boys who would use the club.
Dr. W. S. Small, principal OF the East
ern High School, remarked that the club
was not to be mistaken for a branch OF
the Y. NJ. c. A, but an entirely inde-
pendent organization.
He said the placing OF ;he club on a
good, sound running basis was going to
be an uphill tight, but there was no doubt
as 70 success. He estimated il would cost
about 500 a year to run it. This could
be raised by fees
He spoke earnestly for the establish
ment of clubs OF the Y NJ. c. A sort in
the different sections OF the city
J. DR.. Small said there, are 5000 children
in the southeastern section Of Washing
ton. and 1900 school children. out OF
these there are at least I.Oo0 who can
take advantage Of the club.
He next said that boys would, out OF
habit. congregate on the streets. He said
that nine-tenths of what constitutes
amUseTnents I'm the country are next door
to crimes in the city.
The club Or. Small said. would be in
the interests OF social economy. and by
its development the public waste. the
criminal waste of this country, would be
decreased.
DarnaII VIII Cooperate.
o. (. DarnalL superintendent Of the
Reform School. commended the move as
the best course 10 be pursued in the
betterment of the youth of the city. He
said II Is better 10 use preventative
methods than to undertake 10 cure He
promised his beIp and heartiest co-opera-
ton.
Judge W. II. De Lacy. Of the Juvenile
Court. praised the plan for the good
effects that il would have on the homes.
The rormal place Of development is in
the home. he said. II our institutions are
ever TO be shaken. it viii be because the
cornerstone has been dislodged. the Amer
lean home degraded.
He pointed out that when a child is sent
into the street il is in a place OF danger
He remarked that no one can ever tell
how much crime has been prevented by
gymnasiums and athletic training. lie
looked forward 10 the time when every
public school IN Washington would be a
social center OF that neighborhood
Albert L. Chesley. Of the boys depart
ment Of the Y. NJ. G. A. asked that the
Southeast Citizens Association be thank
ed for the use af IT'S hall
He predicted that the Southeast Boys
Club is the FIRST of four or FIVE clubs of
that sort that will be started in the next
ten years. One will be IN the southeast.
one in the extreme northeast one IN the
outskirts OF Georgetown, one IN the south
west, and probably one near Lincoln
Square. He assured the success Of the
plan.
Money Subscribed; Rent Guaranteed.
After subscriptions had been solicited
for the club. it was found that almost $500
had been promised for the purpose.
II was announced that the board Of d.
rectors Of the Y. NJ. G. A. had agreed tc
be responsible for the first years rent OF
the clubhouse. In addition, II will send
some instructors TO help in gymnastics
and kindred subjects
Music was furnished by the Nordica
Banjo and Mandolin Club, under the di-
rection of Walter Holt.