Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1918-09-08

| rTeueTlCk tnc UTcat Is SnotHcTcu
in the folds OF an American flag. The
halls that once resounded with music
eand revelry now echo the calls OF
boyish voices and the low toned
murmurs of black clad sisters. Father
Flanagan's home for boys now oc-
cupies the old German Home on
South Thirteenth street in Omaha.
Father Flanagan opened his home
for boys last December. He bor-
rowed $50 to pay the first months
rent on the inadequate quarters &C.
cupied at that time. He had no funds
and didn't know where they could be
gotten, but he felt the need OF hav-
en- for homeless and friendless
youngsters--boys who were on the
wrong road and needed a kindly guild
ing hand to turn them from the PEN
itentiary track into the way of be-
coming good citizens. g.
Since last December more than 200
boys have benefited by Father Elan
agan's home. At the present time,
there are s. boys in the home and
many others placed in families here
and there about the city, who report
| to Father Flanagan at intervals.
Many OF the boys under the fathers
care are sent to him by the juvenile
authorities. But don't think they are
really delinquent" said Father Elan.
agan. I'm many cases they have no
parents, in others the parents are al
fault, either not governing them
wisely or in actually encouraging
them in evil ways. Some OF them are
I Just mischievous. All respond to
kindness and encouragement and con-
fidence in their better natures in a
surprising way"
/ Speaks Italian Fluently.
| In juvenile court recently, Proba.
ton Officer Miller made the state.
ment that little Italian boys were
their greatest problem. In solving
this problem the home Is invaluable
Father Flanagan understands the
peculiarities Of the Italians. Nearly
half the boys under his care are o,
this nationality. He speaks tht
language Of their country as we'll as
the universal boy language, which SC
many men forget as years and bust
ness cares press heavily upon them.
Il want to keep the boys out Of
Nearney," says Father Flanagan
Not that the industrial school al
Kearney is not a splendid institution
and wisely managed, but it is anC
should be the last resort.
At the home they believe in ths
. power OF public opinion. The boy.
are not preached at nor seolded. The,
govern themselves largely. when Z
new boy comes into the home," say.
Father Flanagan, "he is apt to de
things the other boys have learned
not to do. 1t is amusing to motto.
!, how shocked they are. One by on,
. they come and confide in awet
whispers that the new boy sssbre.
say little to them and nothing to ths
new boy. II is not necessary. The
very evident disapproval of his AS
soeiates Is enough to effect tht
change.
II could not manage the boys, how
ever, without the kindly sisters. Their
senIie ways appeal to the hearts G
the boys. who love them and gladl,
: work hard and repress their less de
sirable tendencies to win their ap
{ prevail"
-Four Acres i Garden.
There ara four acres in connection
with the home. These four acre,
: were broken and planted by the boy.
themselves, in June, and, al
though it was late for garden
work, this garden has don,
remarkably well and is furnishing
quantities of fresh vegetables now.
There is little shoe shop in IN,
basement, where gray haired oil,
{ shoemaker teaches the youngsters tn,
|. intricacies of his trade. Out in tn,
] kitchen little help is needed. Tn,
boys enjoy preparing the vegetables
washing the dishes, scrubbing thu
floor. and one boy was doing splen
did job of washing napkins the othe
day. 1t is UNUSUAL the sisters say