Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-09-22
MARRIOTT c. MORRIS
On the Bow Problem

ttTNHE problem of the boy has been a'moot
i question for years says Marriott c:
Morris, treasurer Of the Germantown Boys
Club.
80 few adults understand boy nature
that many times the average boy feels he
is Disseminated against and has no part in
the world" Mr.. Morris said. He runs
up against all sorts Of rules, and In his
effort to have good time generally sue
ceeds in breaking most OF them.
1.-THE boy is the hope of the Nation. AS
future citizen he deserves more consider
alton than he gets.
"Such thoughts and the sight of street
corners each evening lined with boys idling
their time away were some of the reasons
why the movement to help the under privi-
legged boy began about thirty five years ago
and has grown by leaps and bounds the
country over.
"The first efforts were called 'Parlors for
where illustrated books were provided. also
games. 1t was finally seen this did not
wholly meet the need.
"Gang Spirit"
Gang spirit was then rampant. A boy
who belonged to the Dogtown gang did not
dare venture into confines of Irshtown,
Pulaskitown, Falls, the Brickyard or Little
Britain without strong body of supporters
at his back
The problem was then to transform the
gang spirit into other channels, and this
gradually came about by the introduction
of gyms and carpenter shops.
"Outdoor sports followed. BY these the
boys were brought together, the gang gave
up its headquarters over a saloon or in n
vacant lot shanty for permanent rallying
place, where they were treated like men and
where the superintendent gave advice which
they knew was good.
LAS the scope increased the title Boys
Parlors' was inadequate; a far seeing per
son coined the appellation Boys Club
This in itself was forward step The boy
feels it Is his institution, conceives a greater
loyalty for 1t and is brought to contribute
to 1t as his means allow, in addition to his
moderate regular dues.
Thus the boy feels he is not being ex-
plotted and is assisting but is content 70
leave this fiscal management and general
outline of work attempted to Judgment of
experienced men.
Just in proportion as these leaders are
tactful and forward looking is the success
OF the club Ip-t date clubs now include
activities which will cover all boy nature
such az baseball, basketball, soccer, foot
ball, tennis, cross country runs biCycle
clubs, Boy Scout work, indoor games.
classes where the hands can be occupied
dramatics. vocal music, Orchestras. social
clubs, good government clubs (under bow
management with an older adviser and
which can take up any boy hobby, summer
camps, special excursions, etc
Nothing is given free--nominal charges
make the boy feel he has an individuality.
Promotes Fair Spirit
The spirit of fairness Is always to be
appealed to. In athletics the club is
Stunned whose members play foul
''In former days the volunteer workers
(whose sacrifice of time and personal ar-
quaintanccship with the boys forms the great
strength of successful boys club some
times became wcaricd with approach of
summer and the club was closed until fall
Then 1t took weeks or months to get In touch
with the boys again. With the advent of
athletics. swimming pools and camping, the
summer season has now become the most
important part of the year. No club can
afford to close its doors In summer
''The police rightly look on the boys'
club as one of their best adjuncts in the
preservation Of law and order, and gladly
give it their assistance when needed which
is seldom.
with use Of playground, the work cx
tended TO parents and sisters Of boys. who
are usually given limited membership and
who in turn do many services for the club.
"As far as known, the first boys club
was opened in Salem, Mass, about 1850
The first in Philadelphia was the Eyenins
Home and Library Association; the nexi
one, started in 1887, was the present Ger.
mantown Boys Club. T.
THE whole system Of boys clubs, of
which there are 1872 In the United States. il
now bound together by an organization called
the Federated Boys Clubs, which has CEN
trpl Offices and at present Is training super
Ntendents for boys clubs and leaders for
Simmer camps. The success of the bovE