The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01
Home Needed For Boys Who Work
By MRS. F.NELsoN ANDREWS

In our fast growing city, there are provisions made for all classes and ages, except the boys who work; I mean, those who have no parental shelter, or l1ins- men to divide their home. In this day, when servants cannot always be had, housekeeper's duties are necessarily numerous, and very few are willing to take an extra person, even though kin, irto their home. to say nothing of the extra responsibility of a boy.
 From a personal investigation, l find that the Boys club will take poor chil- dren temporarily, and find them a good home. Very bad boys are also well pro- yided for.
 The Y. NJ c. A. provides beautifully for young men from the ages of eighteen years on. But for the boy approximate ly from fourteen years. q believe the state allows him to work at that age), there is no home provided. where he can have the proper influences and sur roundings, and where he can pay a board within the bounds of his earning capac- fly.
 Say a boy earns from s2.50 to s5 or more per week. From the ages of four teen to eighteen years; he is certainly
 
 dence: so does a right-thn<lng boy. If home could be provided, with a culti- vated, refined kind matron and man at the head who would give each indi- vidual care; let a fixed board be charged say from $2.50 to s per week, just as the Y. M C. A.
 At the Y. w. c. A. there Is no age limit. If a girls or woman's morals are all right, she can remain at the home at minimum board; and should she lose Ter position, they help her find work, and in that way she is able to pay up her back board, and still have the home. It seems too bad that our boys do not lave the same opportunity. I verify be- lieve many good boys could be made where otherwise they fall into the wrong home and into wrong company, for at that age they are not yet men. nor are they children; 'tis the turning point into manhood or to. ruin.
 I have talked to a number of promi- nent men and women on this subject. have also discussed it with several mem bers of the Y. M c. A. All agree that such a place should be provded-with one exception. and this opinion was that such . home would be detrimental. as it would encourage the country boy to come to town to cheap boarding house." I'm afraid did not make myself clear to him. or else he was joking. Now just here
 
 ticement for the country boy, and the absence of such home does not keep him away. He comes here and falls a victim to the wrong places at once, be- cause he is a country boy. and is not familiar with the traps, tricks and glare of city life Many a fine boy is lost because the helping hand is not extended to him. Most of our very best men began work very young in life, forced upon them by grim necessity. On the other hand, some of the most deplorable cases are those who have had luxuries and oppor- tunties heaped upon them. Again, there are but few who escape. through life. with all luxures at their command for some time soon or late, the need to know how to work will come. Then to those boys who must work, let helping hand be extended to direct hem arigsH.
 In the past year and half, in my quiet life there have been about eight