The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1915-01-10

advice and practical financial aid. That
tually helpful and altogether manly prin-
ciple and foundation is due largely to
the women who compose the membership
in the Boys club, according to chapters,
and to the strong advisory board, and
much to the superintendent, Mr.. Burr
Blackburn. who is essentially the boys
friend and companion. The branch plant
placed in operation this week was
launched after the need for it became
intense-a need recognized because of the
previous establishment of another on the
Northside, conducted after the plan used
at the main building out on Fifteenth
street.
The building Is the one formerly used
for st. Marys kindergarten. and belong
ing to the Church of st. Mary's-on-t the
Highlands. which has generously loaned
it to the Boys club for the present win
ter. 1t is neat brown structure, mod
eled after quaint English plan of arch
itecture without and having several large
apartments which lend themselves to be-
ing thrown together for forming spacious
auditoriums. There is a coy back room
adjoining the large front one where the
older boys are to have their club meet
ings and social hours-and this has a
huge brick fireplace, with old-fashioned
inglenook. AS l entered the other after
noon, just at the opening of the play
hour group of little boys about II years
of age had already arrived, coming from
school to spend an hour in playing games
that boys love and getting rid of that
tremendous store Of energy that, with the
additional emphasis of stout, snub-nosed
boys shoes, creates the bedlam which
had suggested the doffing of, these I'M
necessary and hampering garments. Each
boy was getting into his stocking feet
preparatory to going upstairs, and his
fingers would not move fast enough so
eager are they all for these boy games.
They were arranging basketball game,
for which the upper recreation room is
oqripped. other athletic paraphernalia be-
ing kept outside in the upper balcony,
and there is also downstairs work room
that Is partially equipped. The sugges-
ton of leader by Mr.. Blackburn placed
the title of referee upon a rosy-cheeked,
fat, little boy who soon had his men lined
up, one team wearing caps, the other
without, to distinguish them, and in few
minutes everyone was having wonderful
time So it will be all winter, and on
through next summer, it Is hoped. The
smaller boys meeting at bit after =,
the older ones in the evening. The boys,
though the place has just been opened,
have fiocked there from the neighborins
streets ana IL CANNOT Idll 10 10 VI la
estimable good. for little and bigs ones
alike. Each boy has been told he must be
a member Of some club; these are being
re pidly formed" punches" they call them
and in the gam and contests of va
rioua sorts team sainst team will be pit
ted with the view to increasing self-re-
lance, judgment and all the attributes
that go toward character forming.
The Twenty-ninth street home OF the
Boys club will be the especial charge OF
a recently organized chapter of the club,
which has Mrs. A. ]. Gilmore as presi-
dent Next Saturday a magazine and
book shower will be feature of the
meeting of the chapter which occurs that
morning. This will be by way of adding
attractive reading matter to the little
library already in the building. Later
IL is also expected that provisions will
be made for sleeping quarters to accom-
MEDIATE boys temporarily without shell
ter; this is a, phase Of the Boys club
wcrf that has always been necessary, and
on a number of occasions boys have re-
maiLed under the protection OF the club
for a few days. while going from one
town to another, secured work, paid tor
their lodgings and become self-supporting
members of society. There Is not, how
ever. the demand for this service that
there is in the need for furnishing the
boys OF the district with refined and COM
forta BILE surroundings In which to relax
and enjoy the hours of leisure that come
to them after work or school, to spend