The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-18

1 (EXclusiVe Service The Survey Press Bu- reauD
 One hundred "big brothers" recently held a dinner in New York city There
 were no star speakers, but after the din- ner the big brothers told one another
 about their experiences. The stories were
 pathetic and humorous and all were in- teresting. One had found that his boy ! needed medical care and so he made an
 appointment with physician who treats
 little brothers free of charge. There was
 an unexpected difficulty, however; the
 boy did not care about seeing a doctor,
 that Is what killed me father he ex-
 plained. But he was finally willing to
 take the advice of his big brother. espe-
 cially when he found that the physician
 was a big brother also After the med ica1 interview an adjournment was
 made to a restaurant for dinner. Order
 anything you like, kid I'll have a
 Charlotte Russo" said the boy That was
 his idea of astronomical bliss
 Pride of place among the stories was
 held by Yale graduate who said T have
 tried to do my boy some good but the
 experience has done me more good than
 anything else I have ever tackled. The
 boy. assigned to me was only 10 years old,
 and yet he had been before the childrens
 court charged with attempting to commit
 suicide. This was last Christmas
 It appears that the previous Christmas
 the little fellow and his little sister were looking forward to a fine time Christmas day because Christmas tree was to be provided for them. But on Christmas eve their parents had got drunk and after smashing the tree had beaten the children. The boy was anticipating similar treat ment again last Christmas, and in con- trast to this, the evidences of Christmas gaiety and happiness on all sides was too
 much for him. He got hold of some paris green and swallowed it. He ex- plained by telling that he thought that if
 he were out of the way his parents might realize how miserable he had been, and
 V ould perhaps treat his little sister well.
 He is a bright little chap and all he
 wanted was little comforting and sym pathy. He is getting it. The parents
 have changed as a result of the in troduc-
 uon fl to the home of the "big brother
 influence and it is all worth while when
 one sees the family of four going to
 church together Sundays and when one
 knows that the father and mother are cutting out the liquor, and the children are correspondingly happy.
 One big brother whose business compels him to travel determined that during d few critical days for his boy, he would take him along a companion. One day they Journeyed together to Oyster Bay and the toy was introduced to ex-Presi- L boy job and he is doing well. The fam-I
 fly also have responded to the good infu-
 ence brought into the home.
 It was 1ne to hear one man after an- other tell how his difficulties and dlscour-
 agements in the work had been over
 come Not only were boys being led to
 cut out bad habits and bad companlan-
 ships, but the older people in the homes
 who had not been much help to the boys,
 were showing improvement in their own lives. Parents realizing their responsi- bility to show good examples to their children, and regarding the boys no longer as burdens, but possibilities for cred itable citizenship. Some of the boys who have had big brothers for quite a long time are now holding good commercial positions, and are looking round them selves for other boys to help as they have been helped.
 In most cases the boys have been before the children's court and 1t is after the cases have been disposed of that the big | brothers take them in hand. The Hon. | Franklin c. Hoyt, one of the children's | court judges. is a member of the executive council of the big brothers movement; | so is Arthur Woods, deputy commission
 CT of the police department. Ernest K | Coulter, chief clerk of the children court. | is the founder and president of the move- ment.
 | The big brothers are working out sorria | fine rlans just now to include such fea- | lures as camp vacations for the boys dur | ing the coming summer, learning trades | and so on. The gymnasium classes and social gatherings for the boys being car l ried on in different parts of the city are | also doing good The movement is being | rapidly extended to take in other boys | who have not been hauled before the | court, and other cities besides New York l are adopting the big brothers plan. In | this connection considerable correspond | ence Is carried on by the general secre- | tary Harry A. Wheeler, 317 West Fifty | sixth street. New York, who is always | willing to supply required information