Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-03-01
A Y. M. c.. A. FOR BOYS
WHO LIVE IN COUNTRY

three groups in nine months than
nine groups in three months, answer
ed the secretary when asked about his
SEEMING failure to accomplish much
worth while during this period. If
the county does not wish to keep me
more than this first year because we
have proceeded slowly and with great
discretion, l will leave the field conf
dent that the work is on a permanent
foundation and that little or none of
it will have to be done over again
"'You can't expect me to undo in
one year what you and the devil have
done in % years, was the answer OF
another
This attitude, unique in religious
circles, is often disappointing to those
who look for pyrotechnics, yet it wins
support, as the results begin to show.
$50
THE average Michigan county has
between 1000 and $500 boys between
the ages of IL to 16 or IS years. Sc =
eral hundred of these may reside Iii
the largest city or thes mall town, but
there are many more composing the
enrolment in the district school, Or
who live in the few houses grouped
at some crossroads about a country
store, school house and blacksmith
shop. Such a community could no7
provide building containing a swim
ming pool, bowling alleys, and GYM
nasium full of dumb bells, flying
rings, weights, mats and Indian clubs,
and to attempt to support a competent
director who could teach the use of
these would be just as foolish and i'm
/ ossible Such a state of affairs fur
nishes another unanswerable argu-
II ent in favor of the plan of having
the county as a unit supply the funds
+. bring in a competent secretary who
will train men and older boys in the
small town or the rural districts to
serve the boys about him.
Here are some of the active sides .:
the plan:
Each county association has its
own annual camp with from 81 to SO
boys in it. They enjoy ten days of
supervised fun under the leadership
of college students and other young
men. To the Allegan county camp
one year there came a national gov
eminent expert, who had journeyed in
South America For two days he was
4 guest there, during which he gave
two illustrated stereopticon lectures
concerning his adventures. To these
camps there also come business and
professional men who give brief and
informal talks about banking, care o.
the teeth, postal service, and sew
hygiene. =
Much has been written about the
need for q better social life among
these children in the rural sections
and for some one to teach them games
which they can enjoy, and which are
possible without expensive equipment
Last year one Michigan county secre-
tary taught simple games to 25 rural
schools, going at the invitation and as
the guest of the county school conf
missioner. When the temperature was
too low for an outdoor demonstration,
he explained four or five simple games
with chalk and a blackboard.
when weather conditions wers
right, during a special fifteen minute
recess the teacher and pupils joined in
the games under the county secretary's
direction.
/ when the churches come together
to promote such practical and con-
structive plans for their own and
other folqs'' children, old denomina-
tional barriers shrink and are wiped
out when religious leaders say, We
have worked tremendously together for