The Detroit times., 1915-11-27
THE BIG BROTHER
eY Or. FRANK CRANE
Copyright, 1915. by Frank Crane)

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About eleven years ago man had an
idea, just plain simple idea but a
warm one and human, the kind that |
germinates.
The mans name was Ernest X. Coul-
ter.
This was his idea, that what the de-
llnquent boy needs is not punishment, ,
not law, not an instillation, but a BIG
BROTHER.
Boys are not cases" they are human
beings. You can't get rid of human
being, while a case you may shunt into
a reform school or prison. Hence the
only thing to do with boy you want to
help is TO give him. not your money or
your reform machinery, but your per-
sonal attention, interest and love.
Out of tins germlnal idea has grown
beautiful, efficient organization called
the big brother movement. 1t is not
built on opinion, but on service, thus be-
longing to the only kind of movements
that are of any real account
The idea grew like a strawberry plant,
sending out runners that rooted at the
nodes and made new plants. Ninety-six
cities have big brother associations.
Besides the original company, there are
now other similar groups, such as the
Jewish big brothers, the colored big
brothers, all belonging to the only real
religion in the world, whose creed is the
helping hand.
Each big brother Is to give personal
care for some little brother, not perfume
tory but particular care.
Special workers in the various settle
ments, churches and hospitals send in
to the secretary of the movement the
names Of boys between the ages of 10
and Is who need friend. The secre-
tary also finds out from other sources
what boys ought to have brothering;
from the truant school, the juvenile
asylum the charity organizations, the
probation officers of the courts, and the
like.
The boy is assigned to q certain big
brother, according to proximity, per-
sonal characteristics. and similarity of
religious afliliation. The two are then
introduced, so that the boy will feel that
the man is his own friend, not the friend
Of his parents not of the probation oih-
Ger.
All the big brother has to do then is
to stand by. He finds out the recreation
lrcntcrs, churches, good clubs, y. Al, /
A. branches night schools, and so on IN
the boys neighborhood and puts him III
connection with them.
He procures employment for his little
/ friend or arranges for his schooling.
The big brother movement is build
inc no brick and stone institutions. 1t
/ is purely human.
1t is not charity; it is friendship, In
which commodity the world is lacking.
/ II is inserting into the boys life the
very thing he most longs for. starves
/ for-comradeship.
Nobody knows how much the influence
/ of q man friend counts for in boys
life. A word, talk, an hours compan-
Iionship mean determining guidance.
The best part of the work is preven-
/ tive. 1t is not movement to redeem
/ had bows so much as it is an effort to
keep BOYS from becoming bad. To ac-
complish this it utilizes the most power
/ full force known-personal influence.
II is not without its reactionary bene-
fit. One of the best known lawyers IN
New York has taken on six little
! brothers. ! venture to assert that he is
six times happier, six times bigger than
he was before he undertook to convoy
this little fleet Of humanity.
If this falls to the eye Of some lonely
and soured man who wishes that his life
might be more interesting, richer, and
hammer let him become a big brother,
End one or more of the friendship
starved waits of the world, pour his life
into that empty little life-and see what
it will do to himself.
The best way ever invented 10 heip
yourself is 10 help somebody else.