Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-10-18
Give the Boy a Chance.

In view of the recent agltatlon anu
| the growing hope for a creditable
| Young Mems Christian Association
home in Augusta, the work of the Y.
NJ. C. A. in other cities is of particular
interest to our readers at this time. In
partment of the Y. NJ. c. A. have sent
ont a letter containing the following
questions: What is the one greatest
need of the Chicago working boy. and
what should be the main line of effort
to meet the need?''
| Such questions as these merit the
earnest considerations of the citizens
of Augusta as much as those of the
great Western Metropolis. In a small
er way, Of course. we have the same
problems to meet regarding the work
ling boys and the school boys who are
not at work. who find abundant time
| for loafng about the streets or in
search of amusement. 1t is a question
to be met by the intelligent citizens
who take an interest in the welfare of
society The Chicago Record Herald
| saws on the same subject:
| THE working boy needs many things
| and some Of them can be supplied d.
rectly by himself alone A boy III
shop mas before him what amounts to
| ina &c
| tive under the discipline. gives evil
dence of an insurbordirate spirit. COM
| plains that the pay is small, that the
work is confirming; talks of half doZ~
| en- kinds of employment that he thinks
are more attractive simply because he
| has no knowledge Of their drawbacks
| and annoyances.
| The paper goes on to say that such
| discomfort is praiseworthy but that the
| boy needs above all else is patience,
| and teaching patience is a thankless
| task Thus the question is before us
| how shall we get at his better nature
give him strength and comfort and
encourage him to put ginger in his
work and derive satisfaction from the
| fact that what he is doing and learning
is the storing up of efficiency that
| shall mean success in after years
That his employer maintains discipline
and attention to duty is as necessary
| as that the the boy shall have relaXa-
ticn and wholesome amusement when
| his work is done.
| 1t seems to us that this is the point
| cry city the size of Augusta, and es-
pecially one which has sucn repre-
| sentative class of men and families as
are found in the capital city, has a
| duty to perform in maintaining a
| grade of society and institutions that
will be a pride as we'll as a credit to
the entire State. 1t is our duty to pro-
vide clearly, healthful surroundings.
| wholesome amusements and at the
same time show a kindly interest in
the progress of every member OF the
| coming generation.
| Young Mems Christian Associations
throughout the country are going on
! with such a work, and are providing a
solution for many of these problems
| that demand the approval and support
of the general public. They make
provision for athletics and for other
| care and building up of the body at
| the same time they are nculcating
sound views and instructive ideas into
| the minds OF the boys and young men
who come under their influence. They
provide against hours of inaction
which breed the natural tendency
| toward questionable pursuits and dan
gerous dissipation.
Give the boy-your own and your
neighbours boy-a chance and he will
respond handsomely. Let the light in
to his life and he will see But he is
| no pack mule or pile driver; he needs
friendly hand and an encouraging
word. strong example and worthy
inspiration. The sooner we get at him
| in the right direction the sooner he will
be on the road to good citizenship.
| and will begin to take hold himself
| and lift with the public problems.