La Junta tribune., 1911-08-05

ter are Bohemian: about twenty per
cent are Jewish and the rest mainly
lrish-Americans The average night
ly attendance Is from 400 to $50 boys
and men.
This school was first opened In the
evening few years ago for girls. but
the neighborhood was then so bad
that the better class OF young women
would not come. Then II was resolv.
ed to turn II into boys and mems
center. and the experiment has been
abundantly justified. Social settle
ments in the neighborhood take care
OF the girls. bu, they are viewed
with something like suspicion by the
boys of the district.
THE fact is." explained the club
worker. "a place supported by pri.
vate philanthropy. however well con-
Quoted. would. to our boys. have an
air OF charity. and that they are too
Independent to suffer. The mere fact
that person comes TO their dis
trict. without any apparent reason. TO
help them. implies. In their eyes. that
he thinks himself better than they
are. Now il is not pleasant to feel
that you need help-that you present
a social problem to be solved. But
a center run by the city. with a paid
corps OF teachers. has no more air OF
charity than the Water Department.
II is part OF the government. like
the day schools. and there can. there
fore. be- a better understanding be-
tween the persons In charge and the
more ind ependent class OF boys
These words understanding be-
tween the persons in charge and the
boys largely explain the success OF
Center No. l5s. These boys go there
bounds. they are allowed to do as
they like. drills and literary clubs Al,
not forced upon them. but they are
made to feel that some one is always
there to give them advice and sym
pathy. The personality of the direc-
tors. In fact. is one of the most inn
portant factors In this question OF
public play.
The main scene OF activity Is. of
course. the gymnasium. Go there
any evening and see a gay crowd of
boys and men--who In the old days
would probably have been playing
craps or making mischief with their
gang-absorbed In yaulting. basket
ball and other physical exercises. Ad-
joining the gymnasium. and equally
well filled. Is large room for read
Ing and quiet games. The probl' m
Of discipline has been reduced to
the minimum. for II Is well under.
stood that tough" behavior means
exclusion from the center.
The older boys have organized four
teen flourishing clubs. OF which two
are literary. the rest social or athlet.
ic. These meet In the school.roons
upstairs. Under tn. unobtrusiy.
tutelage OF the club director. the
boys have learned the rules Of parlL
amentary procedure. and their meet;
ings are conducted with order and
dignity. 4 certain standard OF honor
Is vigorously enforced. For Instance.
one boy who had served term In
the penitentiary was admitted to an
athletic club. bu, not allowed to wear
the club colors uniii he had made
good
II must be borne In mind that
som. of 'hes. yoing men drive trucks
or shovel coal all day. most Of them
live In crowded tcnemenis. To many
of them the sole relief from dullinr
rontin. liz IN. recreation center. "
has shown them tina, pleasure can
be- wholesome. II has given them III.
'xampl. of paid body of workers
WIN wv fbi N'i'i' tFt 'h'if
hire II has taught them. through IN.
i.iiigeni organization for amusement.
10 consider the rights and wishes of
Others. In short. II In helping TO
change potentially dangerous 'lo'
m.nt into a social force. That III.
neiFhborhood II no ionr.r IN" topsh
quarter Of n few years aFo Ii due 10
n variety of causes. bu, there can b"
no doubt that m" recreation center
has played a large part In the change
for the better.
when one considers the difficulty
OF organizing into clubs these combat
I've southern Italian immi rranis. som.
~ tho results obtained her. seem A..
ionishinx. One club started n few
years ago with = membership of six.
Tho director encouraged them 10 visit