The Johnson City comet. (Johnson City, Tenn.) 1916-1917, 1916-04-13
HELP SAVE THE YOUNG
MEN AND BOYS

son or a brother who is already
away from home at the mercy of the
merciless world. You surely do,
however, have a dear friend or a
neighbor boy who has already, or is
contemplating breaking his home
ties, to live among strangers. You
may be already asking that sorrow
full question: ooh, where is my wan
dering boy tonight" If out in the
cold-hearted world anywhere there is
a young man or boy who is dear to
you by any tie whatsoever you are
doubtless solicitous about the fol-
lowing questions: What is the type
of his daily associates? What is the
quality of his lodging place? Where
and how does he spend his leisure
hours? What are the moral and re-
ligious influences that are brought
to bear upon him? Would it not be
a great relief to know that there was
some kind and sympathetic Christian
friends who were making it their
business to see that he is surround
ed by wholesome environment? More
tear dimmed eyes and Borrowing
hearts have been turned toward the
Heavenly throne in pleading for the
hayward and wandering boy than
for any other one cause, The pritie
cal period of the boys life Is the first
few days after leaving home. If he
ever needs friend of the right kind
now is the time. He Is looking for
companionship and can easily be led
for good or for evil.
The State Young Mems Christian
Association of Tennessee is organized
in a campaign for the moral, mental
and physical betterment Of the $780,
900 young men and boys in this
State. A great many, too many, in
fact, of this number, are leaving
home Tor the first time each year to
seek their fortunes in strange land.
The young men and boys make up
one-fourth of the whole population
and do three-fourths Of the travelling
around and shifting of location. They
are pouring into the cities by the
thousands looking for job" Many
of them get there with few dollars
in their pocket not knowing what
they are going to do or where they
are to stay. Feeling Of necessity
that they must economic, they be-
gin to look for a Cheap lodging
house" Being unacquainted with
conditions of city life they often
make the fatal blunder right here and
fall victim to the places of vice that
thrive on young men and are always
lying in wait for the stranger with a
few dollars In his pocket. The Y. NJ.
c. A. seeks to remedy this condition
by having men who study the city
and know where such places are.
They are in a position to advise the
boy where to go and where to stop
to be in good company. There are
approximately 500 towns in Tennes-
see with a population of 200 and over.
These with their surrounding rural
territory furnish continual stream
of young men and boys to the city.
So great has been the food of this
stream that today 81 per cent of the
young men and boys in the cities of
Tennessee are away from home. Not
only are they out from under the in
fuence of home environment, parent |
al care and guidance, but the most |
Of them are out from under the in !,
1uence of any church. 1t does not
require the wisdom of a Solomon or
sage to see the necessity of a strong
moral influence for good being
brought to bear upon them in some
way, only little familiarity with the
conditions of city life. Many an in.
locent, unsuspecting youth during
lis first few days of stay in strange
'ity is caught in trap and robbed of
I'll he has, not only his money-that
a small item--but his honor and
character as well before he realizes
lis situation. He has fallen with the
wrong crowd. 1t is hard for him to
ay mo" to the first ones who show
lin a kindness, and sometimes the
worst element are more vigilent for
he stranger than the better class. J,
he fellow lowest down in the scale
# morality can be the most polite
nd accommodating to the new Il
omer. Many a youth is persuaded
o believe that he should see the
lights and that there is no harm in
is visiting the places of sin and h
rhine just so he holds up and does
ot yield to the impulse of worldly
lehsure. Many poor fellow has
one into such places as the pool
DOM, saloon, gambling house and :
till worse houses having no idea {
nat he would ever become victim
IN no!-but he did. He went in TO !
e with his fellows. He was n so- ]
ial being by nature and loved COM
the other boys went !
own and carried him, too. He got :
Larted in the wrong direction and .
let no one on the way strong enough h
turn him back and help him up- =
Ill. He felt disgraced for life, per- 6
apps, ashamed to come out in the q
ght Of his friends and loved ones .
ack home and consequently passed =
4 from bad to worse to some y
retched and unwept and unknown.
hat pity there was not a strong "
'ung Christian fellow there to meet II
m when he entered the city gate h
I'd serve as guide for him until he Il
came established in his proper h
here and had made the. right groun =,
associates. !.
The State Young Mems Christian
'sociation is especially interested il
this kind of service for the young ia
en- and boys as they are leaving II
me. 1t has special system by Ire