The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-08-17
Success of New Venture of the
Local Chautauqua Is Al
ready Assured by the Many
Applications.
YOUNG AMERICA. WILL
PLAY At Government
Lads Will Hold Election of
Town Officers Saturday
And Politics Already Buz-
ling With Ngor.

Perhaps the most interesting event
in connection with the Chautauqua
and decidedly the most novel feature
will be the Boys City under the direc-
ton of Orville Brunson, secretary of
the Y. NJ. c. A. 1t will be a regular
city composed entirely of boys between
! 2and Is years of age. There will be
a city government and the election of
officers will take place on Saturday.
The boys will be thoroughly drilled in
municipal affairs and while it will
only be great deal of fun, a large
amount of valuable information will
be acquired also and the affair will be
Of material benefit to the boys from an
educational standpoint it is said.
city's Location.
The city will be located at the south
entrance of the Glen in the catalpa
grove. The city hall. a large tent
4Ox2O feet, will be located near the
gate and will be the center of activity.
Around this will be the homes Of the
citizens formed in the shape of a
crescent. The residences of the boys
will be tents 12x14 feet and sufficiently
large to accommodate four or five citi-
zens.
Practically every boy who expects TO
attend the Chautauqua has signified
his intention to join the Boys City and
become citizen. The privileges will
cost So. This sum will include en-
trance fees, tax assessments and tent
ing privileges. There will be no par
ties formed among the residents of the
city, but two or three candidates will
be nominated for each office and there
will be considerable rivalry shown
among the boys. 1t is considered a
great honor to hold a public Office and
the boys have begun strenuous CAM
spaign for the election, which will take
place on Saturday morning at 1Ol
o'clock. The elective officers will con-
sist of mayor. city clerk. city treas
urer and six councilmen. The follow
ing Offices will be filled by appoint
ment: Three members of the board Of
works, city controller, city attorney,
street commissioner, city healthofic-
er, librarian and chief of police. A
complete force of policemen will be
appointed to patrol the grounds and
see that every boy observes the laws
and conducts himself properly. 1t is
expected that several arrests will be
made during the course of the Chau-
tauQua and in every case those guilty
OF misdemeanor will be araigned in
the city court before the mayor who
will act as city judge.
Fifty Population.
Arrangements for the accommoda-
ton of about fifty boys will be made
and 1t is probable that this number
will be increased as the boys of the
city are very much enthused over the
matter and already more than this
number have stated it as their desire
to be admitted to the city and become
full-fledged citizens.
Swimming privileges of Hawkins
pond, north of the Glen, have been Sc
cured and every afternoon the boys
may take plunge II they so desire.
Track and field events will take place
almost daily and it is probable that
the boys will get up several baseball
teams and organize league II they
are not too busy with municipal at
fairs. A complete circus which will
come to town in all it's glory has>been
arranged by several of the most enter
prising boys and will be a distinct fea
ture in connection with the event.
The Y. NJ. c. A. library will be trans
ferred to the grounds and Mr.. Brunson
has also secured a number of books
from the city library for the intellec-
tually inclined so there will be plenty
Of reading matter for all.
10 New Idea.
The idea Of holding a boys city is q
comparatively new one it is said in
this section OF the country. Never has
an attempt been made to organize an
institution of this kind at Chautau-
out the size OF that held in this city.
The movement will be watched with
more than ordinary interest by Chau-
tauquas all over the country and 1t is
probable that Richmond may estab-
fish precedent in this particular. The
National Boys City at Charlevoix,
Mich, and the Boys City at Winona in
the northern part of Indiana are the
most important. However both of
these Chautauquas are national affairs
and attended by people from all over
the United States. 1t is believed by
the promoters of the idea that the plan |
will be a great success in this city. !
The proper interest has been stimu-
lated in the event and the boys are
entering into the thing in the true
spirit which can only result in the |
success of the enterprise, it is de- |
clared.