The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1923-05-08
FIR. FLANAGAN'S
BOYS WIN WAY
IN BISMARCK
Concert Played at the Audi
torium Here Received with
Enthusiasm
TELLS OF HIS WORK

An appeal which reached the hearts
of more than u thousand Bismarck
residents. was made by Father Flan-
agan's Boys, Of Omaha, Neb., who ap-
peared in a free public concert at
the Auditorium at a matinee perfor-
nance yesterday afternoon and again
in the evening.
Once homeless lads, the l8 young
sters who appeared in the concert
last evening were as bright and hap
py looking as any Bismarck boys. For
under Father Flanagans guidance,
they have been given a home which
not only shelters them but gives them
plenty to eat and wear and offers
them an education.
1t was five years ago that Father
Flanagan started his home for
street waits and abandoned and
wayward boys. Starting with small
home in Omaha, Neb., with bor-
| rowed 500 to pay the first months
rent, it has now grown to such an
extent that there was no longer room
enough for all the boys in the home
! in the city. When an opportunity
| came for him to buy "Overlook
Farm" near Omaha, he took advan-
tage of it, and 1T is here that at the
present time $50 boys who otherwise
might be in reform schools, are
learning the joy of living and how to
be valuable citizens of America.
Faith in Humanity.
81 have great faith IN humanity
Father Flanagan said, "and believe
that everyone who understands the
cause l am working for is willing
to help me. For this reason l have
never asked aid from any church, So
ciety or fraternal organization.
1--WE have no creed at the home
There are Protestant and Jewish boys
as we'll as Catholic lads, and the non
Catholics will leave the Home with
the same belief with which they en-
tered it. We have twenty-one ma
tionalities and eighteen states repre-.
sented at the Home at the presen,
time"
The boys enjoy appearing in these
public concerts, Father Flanagan said
and this is their vacation. He trav.
els with groups Of eighteen or TWEEN
ty boys for about two and hall
months, and then takes them back tt
Overlook to 60 to school and start!
out with another vacation crowd.
The boys are well hammered littl,
fellows, and stand ready to ODE!
Father Flanagan's beck and call
They look at him adoringly, and VIII!
shouldn't they, for he is to many o
them probably the only real fathe
they have ever known. And he il
turn is a companion, patting then
on the back in a friendly fashion
and laughing with them at thei
jokes.
Entertaining Program.
The program which the boys pre-
sented yesterday was highly enter
tanning, and we'll received by the ca
pacity audiences. They seem to pu
their entire spirit into the musica
numbers which they present, an
with no help or suggestion fror
Father Flanagan, they conduct them
selves as veterans Of the stage.
Neatly dressed in khaki suits an
overseas caps, their first act is min
strel show, in which several of tn
group sing solos and two little lad
!, entertain with cornet duet. Th'
second act included several char
acter sketches which please
the audience. A band concert con
cludes the performance, and the JAZZ
;. they play has all the pep of a rea
orchestra.
Has True Comedian.
A little colored boy with the troul
seemed to amuse not only the audi
ence but tle lads on the stage a
we'll. "He is true comedian" Faith
er Flanagan said, "and is always pull
ing something new. He is quite orig
inal, and almost every night he pull
off. some new comedy stuff which i
as much of surprise to US as it i
source of amusement to the audi
ence. Each Of the boys has a Sc
cret ambition for his life's work, an
! Continued on Page g.