The sea coast echo. [volume] (Bay Saint Louis, Miss.) 1892-current, 1915-05-29
IDEAL LIFE EXISTS
IN LUMBER CAMPS OF
SOUTH MISSISSIPPI

And Elsewhere Over the
Country, Made Possible by
Benefciaries and TIE In
fuence and Work of the
7. M. G. A. Organization
Enterprising fct;cn writer's with a
taste for the sauguinary have pretty
effectually established the impression
that numbering camps are centers OF
violence and sustained conflict. The
woodsmen, the "lumber jack" has
been portrayed as primitive barbarian
of warlike temperament who coddles
an unquenchable thirst for fiery drink,
discord and disorder. He has appear
ed in the pages of the magazines as a
fearsome destroyer of physiognomies,
using his calloused knuckles and iron
shod boot heels indiscriminately on his
fellows.
Now comes evidence to indicate that
the "bad man" of the backwoods is
not such a desperate character, after
all. and that lumber camps, even when
remote from the effete centers of civili-
zation, can be the abiding places of
peace and something closely resembling
culture. In fact it appears that the
lumber jack, instead of being an incor-
rigible bad actor, much prefers, when
given an opportunity, to live quiet,
clean, temperate life, after the conven-
tional fashion of normal human beings
elsewhere.
The industrial department of the in
ternational committee or Young Mems
Christian Associations turned its atten-
ton some years ago to welfare work and
the improvement of social conditions
in "backwoods" numbering centers. In
this the Y. M C. A. workers were in
spired and aided by the big lumber
companies, which realized that the lack
of sane amusements and social pleas
ures made existence in the depths of
the forest extremely lonely and monot-
onous, and that something ought to be
done about it. The res1T4 of the work
begule e . g5s s-lsss, zeFss a11o. d :. re-
markahle illustration OF what can be
accomplished along social service lines
in brief time when money and train
ed welfare agents get together.
PROVIDING ENTERTAINMENT
The lumber and paper manufacturing
companies of New Hampshire, Maine,
Minnesota, North Carolina, Idaho,
Washington and throughout the vast
Southern pine territory from Arkansas
southwark through Mississippi and
Louisiana have financed steadily grow
ing activities by Y. M. C. A. workers
until today the money expended in
buildings and equipment for social bet
terment among woodsmen amounts to
hundreds of thousands of fdollars. .Prac-
tically all of the more populous lumber
ing districts are provided with commo-
dious, well-appointed social centers for
the lumber jack, and even the smallest
and most remote camps enjoy some por-
tion of the benefits included in the work.
The scope of the Y. M. G. A. activity
has included not only the moral i'm
provement of the community life in the
woods, where usually woman's influ-
ence is entirely lacking, but has pro-
vided for much better physical condi-
tions and mental Improvement. Gym
nasiums, baths, games, good literature,
motion pictures, lecture courses, music
and other entertainment has been pro-
vided, while fn some of the larger as
sociation homes up-to-date hospital
equipment is included in the provisions
for the woods workers. comfort. And
in all sections of the country the lum-
Der jack has shown his appreciation by
eagerly embracing tho opportunity fol
clean, temperate living, and John Bar
lev Corn has been about as thoroughly
whipped in the woods as he has in town
Gambling, carousing and fighting have
been abandoned so generally that the
habitual attendance in leisure hours OF
the men at the Y. Nc. G. A. quarters
includes practically all of the lumber
camp forces. The increase in efficiency,
as well as in health and morals, among
the workmen has been very great.
The lumber jacks Y. M. G. A. home
at Berlin, n. H., costs $4,000 ana is
surrounded by grounds six acres in ex-
tent. OF the bost of the building S40,-
600 was legacy from the estate of w.
w. Brown of the Berlin Mill Company
the remaihing $50. 900 was made up o.
! mill and community gifts. There is ar
annual contribution by employing com.
panies of one-half of maximum bud
get of $4,000. The building is equip.
ped with social and game rooms, read
ing room and library, gymnasium
swimming pool, baths. bowling alleys
motion picture outfit, special depart
ment for boys and complete education
al departments.
Sixty-five thousand dollars was con.
tributed in four days by lumber COM
panies at Laurel, Missr for q new Z
NJ. G. A. building, now just reaching
completion there. This woodsmen home