The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-04-04

1t was a great meeting last night
when hundreds of Ardmore citizens
assembled at Elks' hall in the inter
est of the Ardmore boy. The wo-
men of the city banqueted the men
on this occasion and as a social event
the gathering was a great success,
but as a business meeting in the in
terest of the boy it was a greater sue
cess.
The object as outlined last night
by the Y. NJ. C. A. workers is to en-
ploy secretary for Ardmore, secure
pledges from the men OF the city to
pay the secretary and to pay the eX-
penses of holding the Y. NJ. C. A. lot
on Broadway. The business of the
secretary will be to work among the
boys of the city. They will be organ
lied and each Of them given healthful
work to do--work healthful to the
morals of the boy. but the greatest
work will be done among the incorri-
gibles of the city. One speaker said
that secretaries were employed in a
half dozen cities of the state but that
only one boy had ever been sent from
any Of those cities to the state train
| ing school. These secretaries are
trained in the art of handling the bad
boy, the fellow who stays away from
the school. the boy who thinks it's
smart to fight with his fellows, to in
| dulge In the cup or the cigarette Is
put in under the influence OF this Sec
retary, correct living is taught him,
his home visited, his environments
are learned. the sympathies OF the
teacher ARP broadened toward the
boy as his unfortunate surroundings
are learned and the boy is placed on
the road to useful manhood, he is
taught that great forces are working
in his behalf, that he has strong and
influential friends. that he is some
body, that something is expected of
him and he Is put upon his mettle to
make good.
With such an object for a meeting
last night it is no wonder that room
in the Elks' hall was at premium.
Two hundred and forty men and
boys sat at the banquet table besides
the number of women who were serv-
ed. The boys were there and added
to the interest of the meeting. There
were about seventy of the bright boys
of the high school that took part in
the musical program of the evening
and showed much interest in the pro-
ceedings. Mrs. McClintock and Miss
Hanna assisted in the program with |
the songs. Judge Stillwell II. Rus
sell was chairman Of the evening and
entered into the spirit of the occa-
sion. His comments were timely and
his presence and his words added
much to the meeting.
A. F. Ramsey chairman of the Y.
NJ. G. A. work in the city, read let
ter from Governor Cruce in which
regrets were expressed at his forced
absence and gave encouragement to
the undertaking in his home city.
Mr.. Ramsey introduced Judge Russell
as the toastmaster of the evening.
Judge Russell said the chief entertain
ment had been provided by the good
women in the banquet room and hur-
ried the program Of the evening.
Prof Hodges. principal of the high
school, took the place of w. I. Cruce
on the program and talked on the in
fluence OF the home. Without a min
ute in which to prepare a word to
say Prof. Hodges showed that he has
given the study mature thought, that
| II is a part OF his work to study en-
vironment of the boy, to overcome
the wrong when it can be done and
| to make environment better where
possible. He traced the boy from the
home into the world and with apt H.
lustrations brought forcibly home to
the hearers the influence OF father
and mother upon the boy.
"The church" was the subject as
signed r. A. Hefner and he handled ii
with a timely speech that was in hap
py accord with the spirit of the eve
ming He pleaded for the church to
be made attractive. he pleaded for en-
tertainment for the boy at the church,
and said there were no Alps to cross
by the boy who was made strong
by early training and his illustrations
of this portion of his speech were
timely and good.
"The School" was the topic handled
by Superintendent Evans and he was