The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-10-09
A Self Supporting
 Summer Outing
How 70 Boys Enjoy the White MOuntains-The South End House Caddy Scheme-Plan Now in Fifth Year

Charles F. Ernest, South End House. Boston,
 | Exclusive Service The Survey Press Bureau)
 An all summer outing for the boys of settlement clubs, one which pro- vides for large number under almost ideal conditions and pays it's way, this would seem like the dream of an irresponsible hour Yet this is what
 may fairly outline a going enterprise. The South End House has since 1907 provided 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 supplied by boys from neighboring towns in New Hampshire. The total lack of organization left the caddies
 practically 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 cO-opera-
 ton with some organization capable of
 supplying discipline and supervision.
 The South End House was interested SupplyluS NdcdIPulS IO GUY OOyS. Out of this joint need came the Bret ton Woods Caddies.'' The hotel has
 secured body of we'll trained boys under careful supervision. The boys, to the number of sixty or seventy each season, are benefited by two solid
 months of good air, good food. whole some companionship, and something real to do.
 The boys are prepared for their du-
 ties 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 knowl- edge Of the game; this has made for
 mal instruction less necessary.
 The management is in the hands of
 the leader of boys work in the set
 clement. The director of the scheme
 serves as head caddy, and an assis-
 tant is the master at the second of
 the hotels. The caddy master at each
 hotel assigns the boys to the golfers.
 The boys find keen interest and
 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 inter-
 est in their caddies. and as a cad dy is with his patron approximately
 six hours a day for two weeks or a
 month, it is easily seen that the boy is unconsciously greatly influenced.
 Almost to man the players show a sense of responsible consideration for the boys. They respond very fully to the suggestion that the caddies be paid simply at the regular rate for each
 round Some golfers make a real ef- fort to ascertain the boys character, means and resources, and will often
 endeavor to map out with him a course towards a successful life. Such interest frequently continues through
 I~~~ 1n,a aa
 Of twelve boys who have been at the mountains, during the four years of the experiment, seven are in high
 school, and four of the five who are working are employed by the men TOT 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 small, and it was consid- cred in the light of a family with the director as the head The group has now become so large that the family is a community with corresponding responsibilities on the individual. the head, theoretically he is the chai
 man of committee elected from their number by the, boys.
 One big fact which lies at the foun' dation 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 excep- tions the boys are earning their first money, and the sums are therefore larger than they are accustomed to handle. At first the director receiv- ed the money from the guest, paid the boys expenses and returned the remainder at the end of the season to the boy himself or to his parents. Gradually, as the boys learned the value of money in terms of something other than sweets and pleasures, they were given more responsibility. Now. the director is banker and the com munity is depositor. In a few in- stances the boys have undertaken to be their own bankers, paying to the director only enough for expenses; but after one or two boys had lost their hoards this method of saving was practically abandoned. Each boy has handbook in which every item board, laundry, postage and miscel- Ianeous expenditure is recorded. The boys themselves know that their cofn- munity 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 boy 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 because of some committed during his idle time.
 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 a ton of coal, needed article of clothing Or furni- ture. a 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 a 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 l whose energy and roughness make l them undesirable in ordinary boys The real proof of the value | of such mingling of character is the 1 appearance of distinct type, combin- l ing individual qualities. In addition i there are the broader lessons taught 1 by the everyday life. Especially use l full is regularity of work, play, eating, l and sleeping, supplemented by careful l supervision.
 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 he may play. The play has to be directed so | that it will not conflict with the work |