Pueblo chieftain., 1921-04-23
THE BOYS CLUB
Ry Frederic j. uasAtn

RN Frederic j. Ha skin
Washington. u c. April so.-Clubs
Tor boys. whcrc the Eaus instinct can
find an orderly expression. where boys
can learn how to play and work and
get along with each other. arc spring
ing up in many American cities. Prob
ably every city needs ono. Washington
now has a TourishinE Boys club, This
Is an account Of visit 10 IT,
In tho big hallway, the secretary OF
tho interior presented register for
guests to sign. and dcputcd lesser
diEnitarN. a<mcmhcr Of tho police
force. to do the honors.
There arc two large buildings with a
baseball nold between The whole place
seemed svarminE with boys between
eight and eighteen. NisitorN's dry Was
going of with n bang. \ boy scout
band was tearing off tho ceiling Of
the library with professional case. \
steady undcrtunc OF laughter and
conversation showed that the music
was not supplied to MI In any gap
OF awkward silence. In the bay win
refreshments with "a mother or two in
charge. worked buslly TO supply guests
with lemonade ...
But tho policeman guide did not
lnEcr here. lie led his group OF
charges downStairs aud with sweep
ono OF the post popular features uf the
club.
This is for tho big hoys," nc said
proudly. And then. TO show that his
l. years included him in tho interest
group around tho long table. he
shouted Hey. Rcd. IN play you in a
minute"
From here We won't thru the in
door basket bail court and tn" shower
rooms to the gymnasium, wherc a
vrcstlinE match WIS In progress. Tho
gym coach. a Young man. was giving
directions TO the fighters. and much
extra advice was being handed out
from the excited crowd around tho
mat.
The guide Informed us that wrest
ling was great stun to put you IN
shape" and led US of to tho shoe shop.
This was deserted, hut he explained
that tho BOYS learned 10 repair shoes
and some had already hslf-solcd their
own.
Trades Taught
Tho print shop where tho clubs
monthly paper. The Target Is print.
cd. was also pointed out. \ sign paint
Ing room and carpenter shop showed
two other activities open TO clut
members and We wcro told that wire.
less, typowriting, vulcanizing. and
use OF tho addrCssoEraph arc 10 be-
taught as soon as apparatus can he
obtained.
! 4 glance at the game room. fitted out
with small pool and ping pong tables
and puzzles and games for tho small.
or boys brought Us to the bank and
7 the end of tho tour. Tho bank was
l c,Cn for business. tho II was beyond
an city banking hours. Tn" secretary
( Of finance was carefully recording the
Z tve-ccnt deposit Of member, He OK.
planned that he took anything from
ono cent up and that in three months
le.5 had bocn deposited.
BY this time our guide had done hi.
duty nohly. He led us with fna
flourish to the president, Dr. w h
/ Nril. and vanished in tho direction ot
thc lower regions where tho big boys
poll game was in full swing
pr. Neil Is running the nrw BOYS
Club. with the assistance Of y corn,
Of officers, elected hy III" club from
among its membership. Starting viii
six boys and house. Or. \cil organ,
! lied the club in January. Now he has
iI6 members and now applications arc
brought in every week.
Tho club here IA n now one, probably
tho newest in tho string Of 1s5 he.
longing to the Boys Club Federation
ono of tho clubs In Scranton. PcnnEyl'
vsnia. is 20 years old. and thcrn are
| others. well established in ~ cities oI
the United states. Tho clubs arc n
nauccd largely b. public subscription
tho with tn" industrial work of thr
| Ehop classes. such rs printing and
| ghoe repairing n club 10 sometinri
| able tn nay something toward main
tcnance.
This industrial work represents on,
| Of tho three functions Of the club
project Tho other two arc to keen the
| boys off tho streets and tn improve
| their health hy sports and exercise
| Tho industrialu classes. opon to thu
boys free. hll a definite need in their
| lives. Tho bows often have no on.
| couraEemcnt at home to get thorc
education. They want to stop school
| And yet they have only fantastic plans
| for making n fortune 1f they stor
school this mcaEor equipment for MAX
ing q living they arc apt to settle down
as unskillcd lshorcrs or TO become
casual vorkcre depending upur the
ront Of tbs LArpii- tts- sgppora