The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-10-26
A SELF SUPPORTING
OUTING IN SUMMER
How 70 Boys Enjoy the White
Mountains By Serving as
Oaddies.
BY CHARLES r. ERNEST.
tExcims:vs Service Tho Survey Pres
Ruroau.l

(E&Ctu0.v0 S0SvsV0 wv SS'vSS
BureauJ
An an summer outing Tor the boys of
settlement clubs--one which provides
for a large number under almost ideal
conditions and pays Its way-this
responsible hour. Yet this Is what may
fairly outline a going enterprise. The
south end house has since 1907 pro-
vided and directed the caddy force for
the golf links at the two great hotels
at Breton Woods, at the base OF Mt.
Washington.
The caddy service was formerly sup
piled by boys from neighboring town3
in New HAMPSHIRE. The total Lack OF
organization left the caddles practic-
ally free to do as they pleased. They
were not only Irregular in their work
but were frequently disorderly. The
need Of. efficient service led the hotel
management to seek cooperation with
some organization capable OF supplying
discipline and supervision. The south
end house was interested In supplying
vacations to city boys. Out OF this
Joint need came the BRETON Woods
Caddies." The hotel has secured body
of we'll trained boys under careful sp-
pervision. The boys--to the number of
90 or 20 each season-are benefited by
two solid months of good air, good food.
wholesome companionship, and some
thing real to do.
The boys are prepared for their dut-
les by means of illustrated lectures.
Friends at first explained the duties Of
a caddy. After the first year the boys
were anxious to air their knowledge OF
the game; this has made formal in
struction less necessary.
The management Is in the hands of
the leader OF boys work in the set
tlement. The director Of the scheme
serves as head caddy. and an assistant
is the master at the second Of the no.
tells. The caddy master at each hotel
assigns the boys to the golfers.
Golfers Help Boys.
The boys find keen interest ard great
stimulus In associating with the men
for whom they caddy. The guests at
Breton Woods are largely successful
business and professional men. Most
golfers take a real interest In their
caddies, and as a caddy Is with his
patron approximately six hours day
for two weeks or month. 1t Is easily
seen that the boy Is unconsciOusly
greatly influenced. Almost to a man
the players show sense Of responsible
consideration for the boys. They re-
spond very fully to the suggestion that
the caddies be paid simply at the reg
ular rate for each round. Some golfers
make real effort to ascertain the
boys character, means, and resources.
and will often endeavor to map out
with him a course towards successful
life. Such interest frequently continues
through the winter by mutual CORES
pondence. OF IL boys who have been
at the mountains during the four years
OF the experiment, seven are. in high
school, and four Of the Eve who are
working are employed by the men for
whom they caddied.
Next to the influence OF guests Is
that OF the camp organization. During
| the first year of the experiment the
| group was smaIl, and II was considered
| in the light of a family with the d.
rector as the head. The group has now
become so large. that the family is a
community" with corresponding re-
the director is still practically the head,
theoretically he is the chairman Of a
committee elected from their number
by the boys
One big fact which lies at the found
alton of the whole scheme Is that the
boys are in the Breton Woods to
work. They themselves realize that
their personal success depends upon
their value to the hotel management
and the guests. With but few ex-
+, ceptions the boys are earning their
first money, and the sums are there
fore larger than they are accustomed to
handle. At first the director received
boys expenses, and returned the re-
mainder at the end OF the season to
the boy himself or to his parents. Grad
ually, as the boys learned the value of
money in terms Of something other
than sweets and pleasures. they We're
given more responsibility. Now the d.
rector is banker and the community is
depositor In few instances the boys
have undertaken to be their own bank
ers,. paying tothe director only enough
for expenses; but after one or two boys
had lost their boards this method OF
saving was practically abandoned
Each boy has bank book In which
every item board, laundry. postage
and miscellaneous expenditure Is re-
corded. The boys themselves know that
their community is not subsidized and
that they must work to live. The boy
who does not earn enough to meet his
expenses Is sent back to Boston; and
the coy who works one week and loafs
the next, even though he has made
enough to meet the expenses Of both
weeks, is apt to merit discharge be-
cause of some misdemeanor committed
during his idle time.
Save Their Money.
At the beginning Of the season the
boys are urged to have some definite
reason for saving their money, such as
gift to their parents Of ton Of coal.
needed article Of clothing or furni-
ture, months rest, or perhaps a suit
of clothes for themselves. The gen.
eral response is a race to see who can
reach his goal first. After the goal is
reached, or failure threatens, the boys
generally wish to spend q little money
on themselves, and after this desire is
satisfied another effort Is made to
reach or go beyond the goal which has
been set.
The caddy scheme attracts and pro-
vides for all sorts Of boys. even those
whose energy and roughness make them
undesirable in ordinary boys camps
The real proof of the value of such
mingling Of characters Is the appear
ence Of q distinct type. combining in
dividual qualities. In addition there
are the broader lessons taught by the
everyday life. Especially useful Is reg
ularity Of work, play. eating and sleep.
ing. supplemented by careful super.
vision.
Organization OF the boys own play
Is one of the most vital elements In
the caddy scheme. The boy will
work somewhat in the hope that h,
may play The play has to be directed
so that it will not conflict with thu
work either by interfering with ap
pointments or by rendering the boy
unfit through over exertion. Swimming
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