CHAPTER XXXX.It is hoped that the preceding pages have given the reader some idea of the workings of Boyville, of the self-governing plan carried on successfully for many years. It has demonstrated the fact, to the president and his faithful associates, the trustees, and the officers of the auxiliaries, that boys can govern themselves, that they can build up and carry on the work that has usually been done by older persons. Corporal punishment is not necessary and no arbitrary authority is needed. There is nothing compulsory about the entire work of the association. The simplest methods are always adopted, keeping in view the wishes of the boy. Not by advanced theories that reach beyond the comprehension of the boy, but by gradually introducing good principles that have a tendency to uplift the boy, and following as nearly as possible the lines he is interested in.Through the ever-willing assistance of the Humane officers, and later, the splendid work of the Juvenile Court, the association has been able to get behind the cause of much of the wrong-doing of the newsboys, by reaching their parents.Any good physician, to cure a disease, will make every effort possible to discover and cure the cause. There is an old saying: “A stitch in time saves nine.” This is certainly true and applicable to work among newsboys. We agree with the many good things said and written by the late Samuel M. Jones, and this in particular: “The only way to help people is to give them an opportunity to help themselves.”Our cities are full of boys growing up to manhood without advice, without help. They are turned aside to do the best they can, to battle with life with everything against them. The question to thinking men today is, shall we permit these boys to continue on the certain road to ruin, or shall we turn a few steps out of our way to lend a helping hand? Shall we wait until they become confirmed criminals and are serving sentences in prisons before we try to help them?It is much easier to save a soul in a healthy and satisfied, comfortable-feeling body, than in a body wasted by want and with a mind diseased by injustice, cruelty and wrong.The good accomplished by the members of The Boyville Newsboys’ Association, we hope, will go on forever, and that this generation mayprove the best and our people continue to be the most prosperous, and our boys grow up to be God-fearing, honest men, is the prayer of every man and woman of our land. But prayers will never be answered if we sit with our hands folded waiting for someone to do the work.In these hurrying days, when life is becoming complicated in so many ways; when the love of money is greater than the love of mankind, you wonder where can real happiness be found.Let us kindly suggest a new work, a new field of labor; a field that may test human goodness and human ability, but where you will reap more than riches, more than fame.Begin today, go out upon the streets, work among the newsboys, reach down to those below, and offer a hand to lift them up. Throw around them the proper protection and influence. In your own city, your own town, at your own doors, are acres of diamonds only waiting for you to help in the work of polishing.
CHAPTER XXXX.It is hoped that the preceding pages have given the reader some idea of the workings of Boyville, of the self-governing plan carried on successfully for many years. It has demonstrated the fact, to the president and his faithful associates, the trustees, and the officers of the auxiliaries, that boys can govern themselves, that they can build up and carry on the work that has usually been done by older persons. Corporal punishment is not necessary and no arbitrary authority is needed. There is nothing compulsory about the entire work of the association. The simplest methods are always adopted, keeping in view the wishes of the boy. Not by advanced theories that reach beyond the comprehension of the boy, but by gradually introducing good principles that have a tendency to uplift the boy, and following as nearly as possible the lines he is interested in.Through the ever-willing assistance of the Humane officers, and later, the splendid work of the Juvenile Court, the association has been able to get behind the cause of much of the wrong-doing of the newsboys, by reaching their parents.Any good physician, to cure a disease, will make every effort possible to discover and cure the cause. There is an old saying: “A stitch in time saves nine.” This is certainly true and applicable to work among newsboys. We agree with the many good things said and written by the late Samuel M. Jones, and this in particular: “The only way to help people is to give them an opportunity to help themselves.”Our cities are full of boys growing up to manhood without advice, without help. They are turned aside to do the best they can, to battle with life with everything against them. The question to thinking men today is, shall we permit these boys to continue on the certain road to ruin, or shall we turn a few steps out of our way to lend a helping hand? Shall we wait until they become confirmed criminals and are serving sentences in prisons before we try to help them?It is much easier to save a soul in a healthy and satisfied, comfortable-feeling body, than in a body wasted by want and with a mind diseased by injustice, cruelty and wrong.The good accomplished by the members of The Boyville Newsboys’ Association, we hope, will go on forever, and that this generation mayprove the best and our people continue to be the most prosperous, and our boys grow up to be God-fearing, honest men, is the prayer of every man and woman of our land. But prayers will never be answered if we sit with our hands folded waiting for someone to do the work.In these hurrying days, when life is becoming complicated in so many ways; when the love of money is greater than the love of mankind, you wonder where can real happiness be found.Let us kindly suggest a new work, a new field of labor; a field that may test human goodness and human ability, but where you will reap more than riches, more than fame.Begin today, go out upon the streets, work among the newsboys, reach down to those below, and offer a hand to lift them up. Throw around them the proper protection and influence. In your own city, your own town, at your own doors, are acres of diamonds only waiting for you to help in the work of polishing.
It is hoped that the preceding pages have given the reader some idea of the workings of Boyville, of the self-governing plan carried on successfully for many years. It has demonstrated the fact, to the president and his faithful associates, the trustees, and the officers of the auxiliaries, that boys can govern themselves, that they can build up and carry on the work that has usually been done by older persons. Corporal punishment is not necessary and no arbitrary authority is needed. There is nothing compulsory about the entire work of the association. The simplest methods are always adopted, keeping in view the wishes of the boy. Not by advanced theories that reach beyond the comprehension of the boy, but by gradually introducing good principles that have a tendency to uplift the boy, and following as nearly as possible the lines he is interested in.
Through the ever-willing assistance of the Humane officers, and later, the splendid work of the Juvenile Court, the association has been able to get behind the cause of much of the wrong-doing of the newsboys, by reaching their parents.Any good physician, to cure a disease, will make every effort possible to discover and cure the cause. There is an old saying: “A stitch in time saves nine.” This is certainly true and applicable to work among newsboys. We agree with the many good things said and written by the late Samuel M. Jones, and this in particular: “The only way to help people is to give them an opportunity to help themselves.”
Our cities are full of boys growing up to manhood without advice, without help. They are turned aside to do the best they can, to battle with life with everything against them. The question to thinking men today is, shall we permit these boys to continue on the certain road to ruin, or shall we turn a few steps out of our way to lend a helping hand? Shall we wait until they become confirmed criminals and are serving sentences in prisons before we try to help them?
It is much easier to save a soul in a healthy and satisfied, comfortable-feeling body, than in a body wasted by want and with a mind diseased by injustice, cruelty and wrong.
The good accomplished by the members of The Boyville Newsboys’ Association, we hope, will go on forever, and that this generation mayprove the best and our people continue to be the most prosperous, and our boys grow up to be God-fearing, honest men, is the prayer of every man and woman of our land. But prayers will never be answered if we sit with our hands folded waiting for someone to do the work.
In these hurrying days, when life is becoming complicated in so many ways; when the love of money is greater than the love of mankind, you wonder where can real happiness be found.
Let us kindly suggest a new work, a new field of labor; a field that may test human goodness and human ability, but where you will reap more than riches, more than fame.
Begin today, go out upon the streets, work among the newsboys, reach down to those below, and offer a hand to lift them up. Throw around them the proper protection and influence. In your own city, your own town, at your own doors, are acres of diamonds only waiting for you to help in the work of polishing.