The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-08-11
big Brother" Gathers Stats
tics Preparatory to Launch
ing Last Chance" Club
GOOD HOME INFLUENCE
Is GENERALLY LACKING
lmpr0vidence and Lack OF
Church Connection Other
Features

LAS returned 10 Detroit TO push his
plans for a boys club here. He has
enlisted philanthropists who are
willing to support his proposed insti-
tuition as a Last Chance" club Boys
VINO have shown mischievous and
criminal tendencies are TO be taken
there as last resort before they are
sent to more severe institutions as
inoorigible.
Mr.. Robbins himself Is a product
Of the Gienwood School of Chicago
He has founded number Of clubs
In various cities and preparatory TO
beginning here he has been working
among the boys he finds on the
streets.
As a species OF amin no boy Is
very interesting to Roby.As. and he
has delved far into the minds and
psychology OF the young chaps who
are potentially the men OF the fu-
ture. On the streets of Detroit he
put 81 boys through series OF ques-
lions TO find out their mental habits,
(. conditions and manners OF life.
II His collected statistics are inter
esting. The 81 boys were about 10
years of age, and all were workers.
Their wages ranged from s. to $l4
week One boy received that
amount and one received $ll. Sew
erteen youngsters received 81 which
seemed to be about the standard
wage.
II Fifty-one OF the boys don't save
any OF the money they earn. but
/! eight had bank books, six saved
money at home. and one had $50 laid
h aside TO buy a motorcycle. OF the
~ boys who did not save, 3 were liv
ling beyond their personally acquired
n incomes through help from their par
letns or others.
III Just to see what would happen II
aIthey, were all thrown out OF work
"a Mr. Robbins asked them how much
~lthey had laid by for rainy day.
klForty boys could not have lasted a
flweek without a job. Twelve OF the
gl4O were fiat broke Nine could have
iilived two weeks. and is could have
y existed more than a month on their
|isavings.
B When II came to clothes the lads
were vhriously equipped. Thirty
Height had" but one suit of clothes,
|iand only Is had two suits. Six re-
|sljoiced In the possession OF three suits
Hand two were actual owners OF four
|jIsuits One boy was able TO make a
Exchange in trousers but hadn't any
|alcoat at all.
VII The boy who earned y.t week
lx|owed a board bill and IL others We're
n also in arrears. Thirteen owed
Him oney TO friends, q were square
wIwirh every body, and is had mo"ey
Hcnmirk.
|S Seventeen boys had both parents
HAND lived at home. Twelve had one
|Hsuiviving parent, and So boarded
|3Iw tn relatives or outsiders.
MI OF the 81 boys, 81 were addicted
|nIto the smoking habit with a strong
|aleaning towar dcigarettes. Eight pre-.
| fftrred 2 pipe. four chose cigars and
1.-Two chewed tobacco. Only two boys
(Awtre entirely free from the tobacco
|'ahabit
M Big Brother Jack evidently does
! mot consider smoking very Lau
Athing because he says 13 of the boys
I%were faultless, although only two did
|f|not smoke Four Of his boys drank,
SXand five were too much interested In
|Mwomen Twenty-one confessed to
Nstaying out late at night for excite
ssIment, IL played cards for money, and
MIA went regularly to dances. When
|Alt came to church going. 43 of the
sboys were without church intere-ts.
| Thirteen went occasionally, and IL
Regularly.
III Home influences were very bad for
| 335 boys, not good for 13 others, and
fNOnly fair for the remaining g. They
3are not without close associates, how
Never, and many of their companions
,ftwere OF an unwholesome kind Nine
N3belonged to notorious gangs. q fol-
y{1lowed bad chums. IA belonged to
|I}clubs, eight to secret societies and
mime were unattached.
II The poolroom, with its evil sugges-
|itions. took up most OF the time OF
l19 boys Twelve preferred baseball,
Lin spent most OF their spare time in
fhe movies" eight at playing cards.
1.-Two were prize fighters. two frequent
IA eu bdiOOuSs tWO SHJOycu mOSt VI the
4 jleisure at clubs and III STAYED at
3home.
To test their ideas and ideals Of
Ipersopal adornment. the boys were
asked how many neckties they had
hnd how often they shaved Forty
. bix boys didn't shave. and one boy
WAS entirely necktieless. Five pa-
Itronized BARRIERS, the others shaved
themselves. One boy boosted OF IL
]neckties. nine had six cravats. IL
had four, nine had three, and 80 had
)one each.
Eighteen OF these boys had been
hrrested, seven had been twice be-
mind the bars, and two of them
three times Fifty-one were learning no
Trade. and only four are studying for
advancement. Five were still work.
ling at their original jobs, but two
had changed seven times. Fifty-two
I }were dissatisfied and only six really
1iked their work.
Forty-nine OF these boys were get.
hing along as we'll as possible without
Guidance or help. Ten were fairly
well taken care o.. and eight we're
VERY we'll instructed by their friends