Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1911-08-03

Of farmers and of professional men
was the response. Out Of it have
come picnlcs and outings for children
of the side STREETS, automobile rioes
for inmates Of porhouses, flowers for
sufferers in hospitals and definite
relief for those crowded in tenements'
On a holiday the good fellows" re-
member the needy with gifts and mes
sages Of good cheer, all being with
out ostentation and having about It
a fellowship and cher that reveal the
kindness in the busy mans nature,
waiting only to be awakened.
The average man, as this move
ment has shown, is unselfish. He
may not care to parade before nis
fellows as a philanthroplst, and very
likely he has little desire to have MS
modest gift compared with those pos
sible to the wealthy, but II he can DO
something to bring happiness to the
world he may be counted In" So
does the average man like to be con-
sidered good fellow. The weak
ness Of the good fellowship has been
that its energies were misdirected'
that advantage was taken Of the
klndhearted to lead them into paths
where danger abounded. The phil
osopher who was shrewd enough to
change the course and make impulse
helpful, instead Of harmful, did more
good than he knew.
Not alone in this direction OF direct
giving may this sentiment be Utilized
The good fellow may be led to DO
things for his community that go
farther, II he can be brought to a
sense Of responsibility To be sure,
It is not always that the uplifting OF
the town or city appeals so concretely
'as does the home without bread.
That is something that touches every
heart. Yet there AIre other ways
and places in which the good fellow
is as much needed.
Suppose he were interested In max
ing the boys Of the town better men,
Unfortunately, the small town usual
lly lacks in opportunity for the boy
who has no helpful home influence
In the city there are organizations
clubhouses, Y. M. C. A. buildings and
other arrangements that bring him
lin touch with the larger life, In the
village or the small town the boy
who goes on the streets in the evening
finds two places open to him, the
pool hall and the saloon. What he
learns there is well known. II re-
monstrated with for his choice OF
companions, the reply is, Where
else is there for me to go?' Where,
indeed? The churches are closed ex-
Cept for religious service, the school
rooms are dark. The businessmen
I, have their clubs and their lodges;
the boy is left to his own resources,
or to those that are provided for him
by evil influences.
Suppose the good fellows" gave
some Of their effort and their money
to taking care Of the boys, to fitting
up for them home-like clubhouses
where they could spend their spare
evenings, would they not be doing
something worth whllef The fact
that the "good fellows" are exactly
the men to whom the boys look with
admiration would make It easier.
They are the ones who would have
the most influence in bringing about
a change in viewpoint 1t would
take some time, Of course; 1t would
require some money and a little Or
ganization. Always are there men
who would do the work II they could
have back of them the hearty sup
port Of those who are the acknowl'
edged leaders in the community''
activities.
It Is sometimes said that twenty
men run every town. politically. Sc
twenty men can give a new tone e
the moral life OF the town II the,
work together. creditable as It 4
to be a good fellow" on a singh
day, how much more would II meaT
IN the good fellowship could be coin
ed into everyday effort through th'
whole yeari Tue essence Of thu
movement Is In Us freedom from cam
land In its far removal from any ap
lpearance Of open charity. It implies
the utilization Of the common good
mes that lies deepest IN meas hearts
lThe secret Of aecomplishins things
,foy TIE bettermenf Of BoeHtT toa D
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