Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 8.djvu/863

 OUR ISHMAEL 843

betterment, is his rooted distrust of all endeavor in his behalf. The first task of one who would do him good must be to gain his confidence; and this is no easy matter. The idea that beneath every expression of interest, every offered kindness, lies some deep-laid, sinister scheme to "work him" has been too deeply ingrained by his commercial training to be easily over- come. "Ah, wat yer givin' us?" is the question too often flung at the missionary or the settlement worker who approaches him with benevolent intent. Yet, his confidence once won, his unswerving loyalty may be depended upon ; though he will show you his appreciation only in his own wild way.

Of all the means that have been devised for opening the gates of life a little wider before these prematurely aged young faces, these lamentably worldly young eyes, the boys' club has been, I believe, the most productive of lasting impressions for good. The democratic spirit of such an institution, properly conducted, seems well suited to their habits and ways of looking at things. One seeking to help them meets them here on the level of an apparent equality. The attitude of authority is not taken, nor is the note of dictation ever sounded. Thus one sees the boys as they really are, and learns the best ways of coming into personal contact with them individually.

Nor should this level of equality in the club-room be merely apparent. A boys' club should be, like any other, under the control of its members ; this is, at least, the ideal which the leader should keep in view; nor is it practically unattainable. The inexperienced worker will be, I venture to say, surprised, at every step in this direction, to discover that very much of the working policy of the club may be safely intrusted to the plain business sense and keen wits of the boys, when once their interest in their club and their ambition for its success have been aroused.

As an illustration of this fact I call to mind an experience in a large newsboys' club with which I have been connected for the past six years. A young lady, rich and generous, came to me one summer, as we were about to close for the season, and expressed a desire to give the boys some kind of an outing as a