New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-08
The Boys Best Friend
What the Aid and Undying Trust Of POp Wendell Med"
Youngsters Down and Out

around him, would sing the oluIi"e ''"e'
with the boys joining in the choruses, anu
when he wanted TO leave the boys wouiu peg
him TO stay; and many a time 1t has been
well into the morning when, WIN group "
half dozen boys, he was seen vending MS
way homeward.
MANY times when functions have been go
inc, ON simplv the appearance Of "Pop" Wen
dell at the doorway would be suhclehI 70
start a burst Of applause and Hello. Pops!
and it was useless to go on with the pro
gramme until he had either made Speech
given the boys song or promised that ne
would stay awhile.
The interest Of the average social worker
stops with an occasional visit or talk, but ne
followed these boys to all parts OF the eartn'
He visited them in Texas, on the racine
Coast-wherever they were he would hho
them.
His card index contained the names Of sew
eral thousand boys, and he never forgot 70
remember them at Christmas and at Staten
times of the year, or with postcard 'eS-
tifying 10 his interest in their welare'
As secretary Of the House Of Refuge ne
was responsible for obtaining more positions
for bows. or getting them started over again
after thew had served their sentences, than
anv individual, yes, or any group Of indiVid-
uals, in New York. 49,,
Whom the Children's Aid Society, of which
no was tho most active trustee, sent groups
If children to the West and South, to be
nlaced out in good homes, it was Joy Tor
him to see them off on the train and to cor
respond with them for many years to come
in their new homes.
Sport and Thrift
Irnon his visits to the Brace Farm School,
in Westchester, he never forgot the lneVita-
bic pail of candy, and half-holiday was de-
clared when he arrived and there was sor-
row when he took the last train TO the city
He believed in the athletic boy and he en-
couraged boxing, baseball and track sports
believing that they had large part IN tne
development Of the normal healthy Anerl-
can boy, and many a boy holds a mccall or
prize that has been given by Mr.. Wendeli ior
excellence in some branch Of sport. lie also
encouraged the boys to save their money.
know a number of boys whom he encouraged
70 thriftiness by agreeing TO give them 81
for every 50 they saved in period OF one
year.
He was an American, pure and simple, and
few if anv have encouraged more boys 10 go
into the Army and Navy. The excellent rec
ord of placing boys into the Army and Navy
If the Newsboys' House, to which Secretary
Daniels has recently paid tribute, was aided
10 no small extent by Mr.. Wendell, whose
constant encouragement Of the writer ana
advice to young men in the country's Crisis
prompted them to enlist in the service.
lust before he left for France the boys OF
the Brace Memorial wished him godspeed
with this message: GAS you go to France
you can do so with the confidence that no one
is better able to solve the problems affecting
the life of our soldier boys than yourself
You can also be happy in the thought tnat
YOU have not waited until international
stress focused the public viewpoint upon
Young manhood, but have always been the
friend to the American boy, endeavorlng 70
lift him to better and more constructive
standards of manhood.
A Fitting Farewell
"Bon voyage, godspeed, with our earnest
PRAYER that you may be returned TO America
to spend many more years OF successtul ana
disinterested service for the boys OF this
country"
Fyert Jansen Wendell could not have wished
moro magnificent death; he died in har-
moss serving his country. One Of the last
things he requested of the writer was a llst
of the hundreds of boys, some OF whom are
now in France and others who will be there
later His purpose was TO visit them and en-
courage them in the service of their country
His last words in public to group OF
American boys were spoken at the Forty
fourth Street house on the occasion OF
meeting to stimulate recruiting under the
auspices of the Inter-Settement American
zation Committee. His concluding remarks
were follows:
Boys. America is the land Of opportunity
for the poor boy, and no greater privilege
can come to you than to offer yourself 10
YOUR country in this crisis, and in that way
Won can pay back to your country some part
of what YOU owe to her. Thousands OF you
who cannot enlist can go to the farms.
love you all, and if it is possible can regard
YOU still more highly if know that you are
rendering service, disinterested and unselhsh'
TO your country
This was a magnificent valedctory. Few
men can leave such heritage to America
And best of all, he set the example by going
TO the war zone himself. Thousands Of boys
will be encouraged to enlist through his SUI
perb spirit of patriotism.
WILLIAM LEWIS BUTCHER.
New York, Sept. 3, 1911
L..