The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-02-24
NOTED GUESTS SEE PR0TECTORY BOYS
 IN HOLIDAY FETE
Westchester Youths Aston ish Admiring Audience By
 Excellence of Program
Effective Training of Chris tian Brothers Manifested
 Tn Performance

Tn Performance
 With it's annual celebration in hon or of George Washington, the West chester. N. Y, Catholic Protectory has now passed it's fiftieth anniversary The institution cares for approximate lv twenty-five hundred children.
 George B. Robinson, of Bedford TIiIls.t N. Y in Introducing the speak CT Of the afternoon at the annual ex- ercises digressed momentar1ly on the years that he had known the Protec- tory both officially and unomcially, and incidentally mentioned that there are now with 1t Christian brothers who have been there almost from its inception, and who have helped sixty thousand boys through from portal to portal, in most instanees sending them into Iife,s battle as strong men, armed Just at a most interesting moment MT. Robinson stopped in order to present Dr. Lee of the Board of Education of New York City. Dr. Lee also was one of the judges of the orators and actors of the afternoon. During his address the speaker took occasion to note that he was present in a critical capacity, and yet paid an eloquent tribute to the ability of the youthful entertain CTS pr. Lee stated that he had found that wherever the Christian Brother educates boy, that boy will be really trained in whatever may be the Ian guage he is taught. pr. Lees ap-
 preciation was indeed warranted for enunciaition of youthful orators was
 a delight. As to their pronunciation,
 could the original Noah Webster have
 been reincarnate at Westchester he surely would have asked more
 faithful opponents of his latest re- vision than were the trio that appear
 ed on the platform. Friends of the
 boys donated fifty dollars in prizes for the contestants, and surely it must
 have been most difficult to decide as to the merits of one boy over the eth-
 CT. Congressman sFornes announced the decision of the Judges, and most
 gracefully carried through what must have been an arduous task.
 The whole program was by no
 means devoted to oratory.s There were a number of excellent choruses,
 both Instrumental and vocal, and
 with all manner of musical fnstru-
 marked effect in his blending of the
 pure boyish sopranos with. the quail
 ties Of his embryo tenors and bases. Westchester of course would be in complete without its band, which is
 known in New England even better than the Protectory itself Their pre- Jude to the exercises was a most in-
 spring rendition of America. There
 was no tiInid exposition of patriotism by the audience; the band simply
 brought every person to his feet with
 the first measure.
 However. the most exacting expon-
 ent of neutrality could find no offense in the program of the day. All sorts of folk dances, drills and movements executed in all kinds of uniforms were shown at varied intervals Even
 the one act drama with scene laid in  embodied a magnanimous spirit to the Southland. although of course the Union soldier played the hero
 On glancing over. the program, on
 1t was noted printed by the boys,s
 It was a test Of their art to prepare work with the various decorations cuts. etc. that go to the makeup of such printing However, this is not the only trade that is taught, for al- most anything that a normal working boy would need to earn a living is studied. The results of this manual training are remarkable and always rank high when on exhibition
 Westchester Protectory is only one | of several institutions that are con ducted by Christian Brothers in the
 vicinity of New York. At Lincoln dale farther up in Westchester Coun- l ty, is the Lincolndale Agricultural school, where are sent boys from Westehester who seem adapted to the special training that is given in this 4 school in scientific farming, garden ling, fruit and stock raising. etc. with ttheir various branches. Away down at Bnoome street. in the heart of the Bowery, is another unique institu- ton Here live boys who have Ief. Westchester to take employment in the city. As soon as a boy enters l this little sHokne for Industrious l afS fsz.o o<aI IIo.1 1an secure a bank book. Many little I chaps really don't earn enough to I keep themselves, but the help they are given is impr essed upon them as being temporary in it's nature. Many I of these boys take advantage of the night classes that are conducted for i their benefit; however, they are not forced into anything of the kind the idea being to make the spot seem like home. The old boys frequently | come back and bring with them their families for little visit. Social life
 is encouraged and the young men,
 are very delightful entertainers.
 The present director Of Westches- ter. Brother Paulian, has just come from the Broonle street house. If hi. singular1y successful administration or
 in Broome street is a criterion, West
 chester is wonderfully b1est in the | advent of Brother Paulian. Of course
 all Christian Brothers must love the 1 boy and must understand him in or
 der to accomplish their peculiar rs1is sion. However, it seems that Brothel
 PauIan has a singularly intimate a.p preciation of what boyhood is. Hi
 heart beats attuned to those of hi boys, and together they develop delightfully."- harmonious relationship 7 1 WithaI the new director of West chester is eninently director.
 , At these exercises held in honor O F Washington there were present large number of invited guests. Rev
 Brother Henry, who has la,bored fo : fourteen years so successfully a Westchester as to have been recentI , ] nIaced at the head of IincOlndala. fh