Page:Popular Science Monthly Volume 52.djvu/123

Rh the lorde: thy substance most pure what tonge can describe? thy signes are so wonderous, surmountinge mannes witte, the effects of thy motions so diuers in kinde: so harde for to searche, and worse for to fynde—Thy woorkes are all wonderous, thy cunning unknowen: yet seedes of all knowledge in that booke are sowen—And yet in that boke who rightly can reade, to all secrete knowledge it will him straighte leade."



O far as the present writer knows, Mr. Jacob A. Riis was the first person to say that it was a boy's energy and love of organization—not his badness—that made him join a street gang; Mr. Riis also added that energy and love of organization are just the characteristics to make the best members of a "boys' club."

Mr. Riis and Mrs. Van Rensselaer (the President of the Public Education Association) have succeeded through their energy and perseverance in gaining permission of the Board of Education to open in the evenings certain rooms in one of the Tenth Ward schoolhouses. In these rooms, as soon as possible, clubs are to be opened for both boys and girls. To describe the restrictions and regulations concerning the organizing of these clubs would be out of place here, but it is hoped that in a few years every schoolhouse in New York will open certain rooms for the purpose, as the demand among boys and girls for such organizations is very great.

The first club which will be opened (called "club" in distinction from many organizations which are really more in the nature of "classes," having definite instruction as a regular part of their programme) is to be "Junior Good Government Club No. 2." This kind of club has no connection whatever with the more famous organizations of nearly the same name, but the title so well describes its chief purpose that it was thought best to adopt it. Junior Good Government Club No. 1 has been in existence for about four years in the University Settlement in Delancey Street. As it is the only one we know of which consciously follows certain principles, a description of it may be of interest to those who perhaps think of starting some such club themselves, or who might care to know what the first schoolhouse club is to be.

The club in question is composed of thirty-five boys, whose ages range from twelve to fifteen years. A greater number than 