La Junta tribune., 1910-01-22

i kSu una NOnah SsuO "e1
given Friday evening. Jan.
~ uary 18th. 1t the beautiful
home OF DR.. and Mrs. Ftnney. the
club husbands being the guests OF
honor. They were welcomed by the
receiving committee. who BY their In.
nate hospitality and sraciousness
made every one lay aside restraint
and throw himself into the spirit Of
the evening and assist in making It
one OF the happiest in the history OF
the club.
At 1880 O'Clock the club members
and guests were ushered into the
dining room and seated At small ta-
bles beautifully decorated with car.
nations. The place cards were deco
rated with quaint Dutch figures done
In water colors. A stx course dinner
Was then served. an unique feature
being that the ladies progressed after
each course.
The president. Mrs. NJ. F. Miller.
in . most charming manner gave m
address Of welcome. and in An hum
orous way. told how the club mem.
bers had during the past year visited
all the nations Of the world. called
1t royal courts. witnessed the crown
ing OF kings. sat At the feet Of the
greatest teachers and made friends
with the most learned OF the world.
Mr.woodruff. who has the welfare
Of the young boys At heart. gave the
following interesting address:
have bssn requested to give .
ahest talk. at this Guest Might gath.
UlAg q the Wlglen,l CAA spea tie
So1UogkWUo - S411G1
take the Mbssty Of coastruiag thia
topic liberaliy. - properly Dsrmittiaa
reference not only to the structure
and the purpose II u designed to
serve. but also to the Boys club Il.
self. that ID to be.
First, permit me to correct soms
apparent misapprehensions. on the
part Of the public. and to show the
relation OF the Boys Club idea to the
public schools. II Il not correct to
say that the club house u designed
exclusively. or even primarily. for the
benefit Of the boys OF the public
schools: although II is altogether
probable that such boys will natur.
ally be the ones to receive the larg.
est share OF the benefits offered by
the club house.
Boys Clubs ordinarily are design.
ed to supplement the usual work Of
the schools and 10 reach out to. and
help. the neglected classes Of boys:
those who. from various causes. do
not attend the schools. In the larg.
er cities this would take In the
street boys" 20 called. the news.
boys. the street Arabs the boys
living In the slumS. etc. While con.
ditions In La Junta are. fortunately.
! more favorable than In many older
Dand larger places. we have. at least.
eventive work TO do. and at least
\ few boys TO look after who do not
attend school. Here. AZ elsewhere. Il
was the thought OF the more needy
and less cared.for boys that suggested
the establishment OF Boys Club.
and led to the erection Of = Boys
Club House. The lstter-the build.
ing-bhs fair to be- completed be-
fore the club itself IL organized. II
would have been simpler. perhaps. to
have begun the work on different
lines: 70 have organized . corps OF
workers. to have "corrsied'' the boys
and formed Q club. 70 have rented
and furnished rooms. and TO have
carried on. in . limited way. the vorh
Of helping and training the boys: pro
ceedins from step 70 step ~ expert.
. saes might suggest: first. getting the
boys on the street and away from
The pool room and The cigarette and
the cheap theater. into . plsasast.
welLiishtsd. ws,iwarmed. cosy room.
provided with papers. books. pictures.
aal sAoss. acceapaaisl With COO
ssdersts aad synpathstic supssvisioa:
then. By degrees. 70 have added oc.
cupatioa and training. Of congenisi
and welcome sort: and 70 have intro
ducsd Club government. By the boys
Themselves: and 70 have provided oc.
cAsionai entertainments Of . helpful
and Instructive - well - attractive
kiud.
an lot sure bst this would have
o. tAs better way. However that