The San Francisco call., 1910-12-05
OBLIVION FACES
CLUB FOR BOYS
Columbia Park Lads Will Have
TO Disband Unless Funds
Are Forthcoming

Those who have watched the rise and
growth of the Columbia Park boys
club during the 90 years of its exist
ence in this city and who have met any
one of the happy group of bright
youngsters themselves, into whose
lives the organization has brought sun
shine and pleasure and health, will
doubtless be more than grieved to hear
that the little band may disband unless
sufficient funds are forthcoming.
To the world at large this may not
seem such a blow, but to the boys
themselves it is the biggest grief that
has come into their lives. The club has
meant so much to them-so much more
than boys who have been born to a life
of ease can realize. 1t has meant a club
that was a home; a place where they
had pleasures and sports, games, aero
batic and athletic stunts, which al
goes to make life worth while for a
boy. Their well trained band has fur
nished music on many public occasions
and nearly every one in the city has
witnessed at some time or other the
various performances that have been
given under the auspices of the club.
It is all this that is facing oblivion,
and only the drab and gray will be left
grown and frightened under It's train
ing, unless a saving hand is stretched
out in time to enable them to continue
another five years or more on their
way.
Sidney S. Peixotto, who has worked
so earnestly for the success of the or
ganization, has done all in his power to
save it from disbanding.
The Call yesterday received the fol-
lowing letter from him:
1 have this month completed a
20 years labor in the interest of
San Francisco boys. 1 must decide
at once whether this work shall go
on or be abandoned.
/ have made this fight for
loftier type of boy without the as
sistance of any great organization
and il has almost exhausted my
many resources to survive these
years of unceasing toll. / have
had to rely on results and the
heart of the Intelligent part of the
public to carry this interesting ex-
pertinent to successful end.
My aim has been to make our
people realize the beauty and
our boys, if properly influenced and
sympathetically led during their
young years, can do wonderful
sthietics sfng dramstics adcompab
ments taught during the hours
when they would otherwise grow
up in idleness. SeIf-control. polite
ness, obedience, respect, responsi-
bility-these can become attributes
of every boy as of every man.
1 want to continue for five more
years. l want that one chance to
prove my work / believe that
there are enough people in my home
city who believe in this altruistic
effort of mine, who agree that my
high standards stimulate others to
make like efforts for boys, and
who believe that such a life as I
have tried to lead is a fine thing
in the midst of this very material
istit epoch, and who now, at this
critical moment, will make some
sacrifice to preserve for the fu-
ture this club and its splendid or
ganizations
six hundred and fifty thousand
bay. 100000 more in California
have seen these boys and know
what they try to stand for.
believe | am right in arguing that
if just 1000 of these $4,000 men
contribute not less than SO
toward this five years mainte-
nance" fund, I could go on with
my work in peace, freed from all
the worries of dissenting views
and uncertain income.
If these 1000 persons will send
contribution TO the Columbia Park
boys club. 45s Guerrero street
will pledge my life for five years
more to my community If this
idea meets with disfavor, then /
shall sorrowfully conclude that
must become a lifelong memory to
1000 boys who have peopled its
hoSpitable rooms and to 1000 9TH
ers who have gained happiness and
higher uplift during its 20 years
SIDNEY S. PEIxOTTO