Charlevoix county herald., 1910-07-09
City of Boys
Opens July IS
Unique Municipality Ready for
Second Season on Shore
of Pine Lake.

Boy CITY, Michigan, June b, l9lO-
This unique municipality Of boys, for
boys, ana governed by boys, will re-
sumo civic operations July q. From
that date until August l8 the city
will be In the hands of its embryo
politicians, will govern itself, hold an
exciting campaign and election, have
its own water works and eletric light
plant, listen to its owu band, produce
circus, "such as Barnum never
had" swim, boat, fish, play ball, hike
across country, listen TO the chantau-
qua lecturers, see moving picture
shows. sleep In tents, run its bank,
grocery and postotfice and conduct its
own church, camera club and news
paper.
Although the organization by wards
into city will not continue longer
than three weeks, the grounds will
be open for the boys use from July ID
until September /.
Realizes Browns Life Dream.
Boy City is the elimination of
Judge Willis Browns lfe's dream.
Judge Brown is known as the worlds
champion believer in the inherent
goodness of all boys. He has toured
the country pleading for a better
understanding OF bey's nature and
demonstrating lis theories, and last
summer he founded Nationtal Boy
City on the shores of Pine Lake. one
and one-half miles from Charleyoix.
Boys from twenty cities became cit
izens of Boy City. Two brothers
came with twenty dollars, remained
three weeks and went home with
niueteen. Others succeed in partially
paying their expenses by entering
some line of Boy City business. Each
group from city constituted ward
elected its alderman. Other city
officers were chosen and police force
appointed. All city employees and
officials received small salary.
Boys Form Eating Association.
Boys brought their tents and pro-
vided their food and cooking facilities
known as "The Mutual Eating AS
ISOLATION" engaged cook, bought a
stove and lived on about two dollars a
week for each member, there being
about forty in the association.
DR.. j. d. Elson, professor Of phys
icai training at the Universally Of
Wisconsin,, was and will be, in charge
Of the athletics. Each citizen will be
examined before he is allowed to take
severe eXerciZe and an expert swim
mer will be on guard during bathing
hours.
The moral welfare of the boys will
be cared for. Last summer the
church numbered among its embers,
Catholics, Methodists, Lutherans, Bap-
lists, Jews, Espiscopalians, Presby-
terians aud Congegationalists. Its
creed was simple: Il will try to play
square with my parents, my school
teachers, my companions, myself and
my God"
This years Boy City will be larger
than that of last, and plans are being
laid to have ultimately a city Of boys
and controlled by boys all the year
round, with self-governing college.
Judge Browns belief is that the civic
idea, not the military, is best adapted
for the promotion of honest govern
ment and the eradication of graft and
purchased elections now admittedly
common throughout the country.
Permanent College Town the Aim.
With this consummative in view.
the National Boy City association has
secured sufficient land for permanent
college town, its belief being that the
location so near Charlevoix, the Bay
View assembly and dozens of other
summer resorts will make the location
popular with cottagers, tourists and
students.
Judge Brown has given lectures on
Boy City in more than 100 cities since
last summer, and BoyviIles. under the
auspices OF churches, school boards
aud Y. M. q. AS have sprung up all
over the country. Each of these will
send delegation to Boy City this
year. After the boys from Jackson,
Mich, returned home from Boy City
last summer they Immediately inter-
ested other boys, with a result that
Ralph Stanley, the boys work direct
or OF the Jackon Y. M. g. A., inaugur-
ated Boyville as the boys depart
ment OF the association. At Ham
mond, Indiana, the mems club Of the
city employed Charles B. Hahn, AS
sociate director or Boy City, to in