Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1914-04-10

request mat j WOulu not teil ueI sou
she had been at the center. Her OBJ
ject was 10 see what kind Of place
il was and the work we were doing.
In explanation she said that her boys
had been in the habit Of standing
around the corners, wearing the same
clothes and shirts they had been
working in oil day. On the first night
Of mixed social dancing, one Of them
asked her IL he might have his white
Sunday shirt that night. When she
questioned him, he told her he expect
ed to 70 to the center with white
shirt, collar, tie, and his shoes polish
ed. His brothers curiosity being
aroused, he announced that he too
would dress up. and see what kind Of
n place il was. Both boys were faith
full attendants for the whole season,
and the mother called II second timr
to thank me for il. Her boys were in
their homes every Saturday night,
while the center was open, at 10 80
-. IN. Before they were careless in
their dress and appearance and stay
I'd out every Saturday night ut cheap
shows until nearly midnight"
DIR. Gulick, the head of the social
center movement in New York City,
in an address before the n. E. A.,
the following bit Of history Of the
work in New York City centers as
evidences of what the work pays.
And this justi6es me in judgment in
indorsing the gymnasium stunt men,
toned in another part Of this paper
A tough public dance hall was gath.
ering in all the boys and girls in the
neighborhood where II was located
And the question was what shall b.
done. In answer a recreation center
was established in one Of the near.
by school houses, and trained recrea.
ton workers were employed. The
result we all know before | tell you
The tough dance hall could not stant
competition with pure, clean, whole
some pleasure and it soon discon
tinued. One great reason why boil
the youth and adults 20 to the un
desirable places is, because We offe
nothing better.
Men and women, who by the chord
Of necessity, have been tied through
day to hard manual labor that is un
interesting and monotonous, nee'
time to be free and to grow and t
be independent and to be on a maj
or a woman. Active participation il
these real live questions gives thes
people new inspiration n new hop
and n new lease on life.
The leader Of the recreation cente
in Boston says Of one Of her mother
clubs: "Thc mothers enjoyed seein
their children do the folk dances
hut il was on the occasion when the
danced the "virginia Rec" them
selves that they went home with thei
faces aglow and with the quickene
heart beat which meant lifting @
burdens and an easier facing Of tn
problems Of tomorrow.
During the working hours th
laborer's thoughts and attention nr
cont rolled by their tasks. but in thel
leisure they do what they like whetll
er il is hest for them or society q
not. The kind of citizens they al
is largely determined by the use @
misuse Of this free time. Statistic
tell us that eighty percent OF th
offenses against society are commit
ted between @ and II p. m. II TIL
: is true, and there is reason to bt
, lieve that it is, the school evenin
) center has n great opportunity
, playing an important part among Ii
forces that make for order, decenc.
/, and social welfare.
Some writer has said: "The scho
a house civic club, by affording
e neutral meeting ground for citizen
D becomes a place for the open di'
S cussion of municipal affairs and el
l ables the constituents to become be
n ter acquainted with their public Sc
wants. The city official, who de-
cribes the work of his department
I a neighborhood civic club meeting n
: only gives pertinent information. b
p deepens in his own conscience Il
. sense Of his accountability to q
}, people"
i The keynote Of this century is o
y ganization, cooperation and solida
ity. The new and vital task in pub
:. education is to train people for re
. democracy, to help them to do tea
- work, to help them to live and wo
and play together. We are Learnt
"a that progress comes slowly when o
III fights alone. Therefore let us VIZ
Is our forces and use the school hou
: evening center to furnish wholeso
/, recreation, to establish right idea
ID to organize, and to vitalize educ
re tional, civic and social progress.