The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1912-08-23
First Program Offered This
Afternoon Before Large
Crowd, Gives Promise of
Many Treats.
NEWSBOYS' FRIEND
"GUNCk" A SPEAKER
Story He Told Was a Most
Entertaining One. Musi-
cal Events on Program
Were Big Feature.
eY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.

eY ESTHER GRIFFIN WHITE.
The tenth session of the Richmond
Chautauqua opened today under favor
able auspices as to weather conditions
and with one of the largest attendanc-
es for an opening day in it's history.
There are more campers than at any
previous session.
The first order for tents, state the
managers, was duplicated twice and
there are but one or two sites remain
ing.
Everything, in short, points to a
brilliant, successful and enjoyable
Chautauqua.
The formal program opened this
afternoon with a concert at half past
one by the Cambridge Players,
quartet of musicians who made an
agreeable impression In their first ap-
pearance.
John Gunekie.
The feature of the afternoon was the
appearance of John Gunckle, or
"Gunck," as he is known among news
boys the country over. in an address
concerning the great work of The
Newsboys' association which he found
ed and which has branches in various
quarters of the world
Mr.. Gunckle is neither an orator
nor a polished speaker.
But he is more.
He has a story to tell and tells il
in simple language from the heart.
He at once impresses with his sim
cerity and his catholic sympathies.
Mr.. Gunckle gave a history of the
origin and development of his work
among the newsboys, stating that for
twenty-nine years he was ticket
agent in the railway offices in Toledo,
becoming gradually involved in the
propaganda among boys of this class
ii took all of his time.
Mr.. Gunckle believes in the bad"
boy.
In fact doesn't believe that there is
suoh an entity as bad boy" but
that his supposed badness is goodness
distorted by wrong direction through
unfortunate environment.
No boy can become a member OF
the Newsboys' association unless he
had bad habit
While this may seem an anomalous
condition to make for an entrance
qualification Ii is the basis upon which
this organization has founded and en-
larged its field Of usefulness and which
has made its achievements in the max
ing Of men of such value to both home
and state.
After Bad Boy.
The Sunday school goes after the
good boy. The Newsboys' associa-
tion after the bad one." said Mr..
Gunckle. going on to illustrate in what
manner these alleged bad" boys had
been metamorphosed and had had all
their manly and gentlemanly qualities
developed into accentuation.
The Newsboys' association started
at the Worlds Fair in st. Louis, in
1904. and now has a membership of
26, 900. having five hundred members
in China.
Mr.. Gunckle. however, began the
movement in 1892. in Toledo. with an
organization of 102 members which
now numbers eight thousand
That the value of Mr.. Gunckie's
work is recognized by Toledo citizens
Is shown in the fact that six hundred
people of that city erected a building
for the occupancy of the Newsboys'
Association at a cost OF $4,000.
This is the only exclusive newsboys'
building in the world and has one OF
the finest auditoriums In the country
It contains a library, reading and re-
ception rooms. large. modern equip
ped gymnasium. swimming-pool,
game and billiard rooms. association
hall and playground adjoining.
Boys between eight and seventeen
are admitted to membership, and
.'once a member always a member
No designations are accepted: no ini-
tiation fees. no dues. no assessments.
Self government is its motif of ad-
ministration and IL has sixty-six Off
GERS.
In addition to the sI1O. 900 building
erected by the Toledo citizens. they
endowed it with enough money to run
II for five years which shows the con-
fidence with which Mr.. Gunckel is re
garded and the esteem in which he is
held
The Newsboys' association is one Of
the most remarkable and successful
agencies for the making of valuable
citizens which the country has and
reaches a class not touched through
any other medium Of social propagan-
da-
Altogether Mr.. Gunckers appear
ance was one of the most interesting
the Chautauqua will have. the speaker
holding his large audience with HIS