The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1911-12-10

A review of the work done among
the boys throughout the year is en-
aging to those who have the well
fare Of our boys at heart. There has
been an awakening among our citizens
as to the Importance of boy training.
There has been a partial realization
that to improve Pensacola we must
improve her boys. Several movements
show this renaissance. The Play
grounds, the Scout Movement, the Re-
cess Play Work, all indicate effort in
the right direction.
The Young Mems Christian Associa-
ton has with greater zest emphasized
the work among boys. The organiza-
ton has sought to make more than
ever its building a down town home"
for our boys. A special apartment in
the building is given over to the ex-
elusive use of the boys. The after
moons after school hours witness a
jolly gathering Of the youngsters in
these apartments. Here they plan
Saturday outings. play the games that
are bought by themselves and enjoy a
social time with their fellows, all of
which is necessary to the normal de-
velopment of every boy. At nightfall
the school boy has gone, but still the
click of the ping pong ball is heard.
This time it is the employed boy that,
having worked all day, is getting that
relaxation he has longed for all day.
Until ten o'clock the rooms are open,
but Immediately at that hour the lights
are turned off, for even if the working
boy forgets that there is a tomorrow
with work, he being so engrossed with
his game, he must be reminded, for his
play hour is not to tear down but to
build up and make him more fit for the
next days work.
Working thus, the department has
almost doubled its membership. From
a total of seventy the number has in
creased to one hundred and twenty.
Believing that it is better to form than
reform, the fellows have agreed as a
mark to be reached by January l, 1913,
n total of two hundred and fifty con-
stituting the membership of the Boys
Department.
Sunday Afternoon Hike Club.
The work done by this club has been
Of unusual benefit to those who took
part in the activities. The member
ship was confined to the members of
the Boys Department who were en-
ployed during the week and unable to
get the usual recreation. In the early
fall they got together and with their
Misunderstanding have every Sunday
afternoon taken an outing. 1t has
been decided by them that physical
development alone is not all that can
be gotten out of these Sunday after
noon trips. The members resolved that
half an hour each trip should be de-
voted to the discussion of some topic
that will aid them in becoming better
men. The following are members of
this club: Harry Hoist, James Mel
vile, David Moss, Grover Weems,
Gerald Herrider, Carl Thorp, Robert
Smith, Nathan Greenblatt, Herman
BoleY, Henry Phillips.
The Boy Scouts.
The movement that for the past two
years has swept the country gathering
up the boys from all sections for the
purpose of aiding them in being
physically strong, mentally awake and
rs morally straight, has, we are glad to
say, been taken advantage of by Pen
sacola. For over a year the work has
been carried on in the city with vary
ing success. One hundred and thirty
five Scouts enlisted. On account of
the scarcity of leaders, a number of
them were not kept together, as they
should have been. The movement took
on new life this fall and is growing
rapidly. There are at present sixty en-
thusiastic Scouts who are trying to
live up to their motto, BE Prepared"
One troop especially deserves credit for