New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-02-21
KID MCCOY" BARRED
IN GREENWICH VILLAGE
Ex-PugiIist Was Going to Give
Lecture, but SChoolma'am
Objected.
AN "OUTLANDISH PERSON"
That Is What She Calls Old
Hero of Prize Ring, Who
Aims Now to Aid
Humanity.

Tv' or ttree hundred Greenwich WI
laee folk gathered in the assembly hall
Of Public School Il. in Greenwich avenue,
near Sixth avenue. last night to hear
Norman Selby. bette known as kid
Mccoy" the prizefighter. lecture on
Human Efficiency" They were doomed
to disappointment "Nid Mccoy" did not
appear because At the last moment the
school authorities objected.
Boyd Fisher. secretary OF the Civic and
Social Centre Committee. had to break
the news from the platform.
The advertised speaker OF the even
ing" said he. lis not here through no
fault Of his own. but through the fault
OF the people Of the ncighborhood and
the public school authorities. who OBJ
iccted 10 Mr.. Selby's speaking here on
the subject he had chosen.
Nj Selby promised me week ago 10
come here tonight and lecture 10 the
adults of Greenwich Village on Human
Efficiency. lie agreed to form class
Of men and Mrs. Selby 10 form class OF
women. but the thing got into the news
Papers and The school authorities didn't
like the idea"
Mr.. Fisher read letter he received
Yesterday from the former prizehghter
when the latter had been informed OF the
order issued against hun. The letter ran:
sx-Pueiist Not Angry
Dear Mr.. Fisher. J am not angry be-
cause ! may not nave a class IN human
ef,icIcncv for the men OF your social cen
10 peopl, ha .
not vet understood. as YOU do. what
want 30 accomplish.
Il am not trying 10 come back ! am
irving 10 go forward / am just begin
ming tho best work Of my life. helping
Others 10 enjoy good health. want to
help ave those thousands Of people VINO
die necdlessy every year. II have
learned ANYTHING useful during the last
twenty wears. IL rs how 10 be healthy.
Why shouldn't / put the knowledge at
the service Of the general public. especial
Is when they know me well enough l"
pav attention ! thank YOU Tor the of"r
To help me DO this. even II ] may not
sneak AZ yoIr social centre. am only
sorry hat cannot help your idea of the
citizens meeting in the schoolhouse.
Maybe ( can help in another way.
though II you care to receive the pro-
ceeds OF one ~ my publ, lectures, You
may use the money 10 establish class
IN human efficiency for the men ana
women OF Greenwich Village.
The audience Of men and women APP
plaud.d these sentiments with VIII.
Then they heard Dr. Clarence Welt lectur"
on the same subject. and afte-wafd went
Downstairs and danced together. like the
nelghbors the really are. but never be
fore realized they were The opening.
therefore. OF the first schoolhousc In New
York CIV ~ - social centre" proved a
success. de. Dit. the cancellation Of the
evenings feature.
Mr.. Fisher explained last night that b"
himself was well ~ d 20 disappointments
IN his social worh. He came on To New
York from Kansas CITY. Mo. little less
than two years ago. he said. from local
l,v where every one lived In detached
bouses $50 or 200 feet apart. and knew
Inc neighbors. TO on. where every on"
ity.d in tenement houses and had no con-
cep,ion Of tn. neighborhood spirit. He
went to I've In an apartment house con
tanning 100 apartments AZ 40. 'f6 East
10Th street. The Bronx
Planned Meeting on Roof.
"a. soon became imbued with the desire
10 acouaint all the families IN the houS"
with one another. 10 stir up the n"iShbor-
hood spirit. which be knew iurked beneath
fin. nintlike exterior Of all those people.
So ne inserted in every one OF the 10
mail boxes an Invitation to meet MIN on
,he roof Of the house on a given evening
II got lust one reply 20 those invita-
ro,. +" said he and that was from man
who was angry because had butted INTO
his privacy"
He has since transferred ms salon from
IN. apartment house roof 70 the school