THE SUNDAY OREG0X1AN, PORTLAND, OCTOBER 13, 1907.
Bbotheb Barnabas unique Home where
BOYS ABE HOSTS AND SUNDAY BASE BALL
AND BILLIARDS AfcE ENCOURAGED
THE SUNDAY AFTERNOON
BASEBALL GAME. ISAM
ENCOURAGED INSTITUTION
OF" THE HOME-
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K'ajt'' (X " ' 'WlR5Bl NO WHOLESOME FORM OP REOSOTOM
I . V- AN V '-'w8Wlnr i'TTrr, baeeeo from st.
THE "HOME IDEA IS V. j Ol ZM& Q IfeXlr
EFFECTIVELY EXPRESSED . IN THE mpM-- f?' "r -Vfe ' -l
PINING ROOM - j "
lhft KX GAME "OP.. BILLIARDS- LJl
ypi .
Th rmarkable but little known
uceesaa of the most unique home
for walfe In the Vnlted States, aa
Man and graphically described by
Mrs. Burton herewith. In of direct
and special Interest here In Port
land, for It shows how a problem
that la still to be solved completely
In this city has been met and con
quered with aplendld results In New
York.
BY a. MARION BURTON.
THERE were boys as we entered the
massive Iron gate; bovs In the broad
shady avenue leading to the mansion;
boys on the piazza; boys here, boys
there, boys everywhere; the place was
alive with them. And such merry boys,
such riotous, happy boys, and. above all,
such well-mannered boys, that we stood
amazed as we thought that but for the
father of the little flock these splendid
fellows might be creatures of the street,
sleeping In doorways, on wharves, crawl
ing into any miserable coverlneT for the
night and all through no fault of their
own, but through the pitiless poverty
that so often' fairly drives the homeless
lad to a life of crime. What other oc
cupation is open to them? Who will step
forward and help them to an honest po
sition T Who, in the great vast city, really
cares or even knows what becomes of
the poor waif?
Who cares, did I ask? Why, the Rev.
Brother Barnabas c&res, a shrewd, spare
little man with love for his fellow be
ings glowing from every feature and the
milk of human kindness flowing In every
vein. I do not deny that there are
many men and women in every city of
the Union who are earnestly endeavoring
to help the friendless, but In all my so
ciological investigations I have yet to
And as sane and practical a method as
that adopted by Brother Barnabas, who
In 1902, established St. Philips Home for
Industrious Boys, with headquarters in
a commodious four-story house at 417
Broome street. New York, where enter
tainments are enjoyed In a pleasant as
sembly hall and games played in recre
tlon hall and billiard room, and evening
classes held when the boys return from
work in useful studies.
Home Versus Institution.
i
When 1 os"ed Brother harnahas what
the Idea of his home was and wherein it
differed from other Institutions to help
the friendless, his eyes twinkled and he
answered: "Why you have Just said it
yourself. The terms you used 'Home' and
'Institution' exactly express the Idea. Our
desire and one in which 1 fancy we are
unique, is to Inculcate In our boys a love
for borne and home life, lor in that aione
lies the primary strength of the nation.
Thousands of friendless boys have passed
through the various institutions of the
cities in the effort to reolalm and educate
them. Considerable time and money have
been spent In raring for them. Of ne
cessity institutions cannot limit them
selves to small numbers of children at
and given rime we try to have not above
40 In our home at once, hence In insti
tutions, the impossibility of dealing with
the boy as an individual and fitting him
for the social life of the community after
lie leaves the Institution. When he has
reached the working age, which is about
14 years, he starts out his new life handi
capped when placed alongside the boy
who has grown up in the outside world
with all the culture and training of fam
ily life. At this point In his life, places
like St. Philips Home for Industrious
Boys would afford the solution of his
problem. Then he would find the home
conditions that it is impossible to give
him in a mere institution, and would re
ceive that individual attention to guide
him and fit him to take his place in the
world according to his gifts of mind and
character."
No Restrictions.
I noticed that the boys at St. Phil
ip's Home seemed to be as free aa air
and on a visit to their Summer quarters
the magnificent Dykman hist ate at 218th
Street and Broadway. I &;ked both Broth
er John, whom I first met, and later
Brother Barnabas, if there were no re
strictions placed upon them. Both an
swered that they only required the boys
to comport themselves as gentlemen, and
this they did not attempt to inculcate by
precept but by example. They never cen
sure the lads, not even about smoking
cigarettes, but trust to the subtle influ
ences around them to instill the feelings
of courtesy and manliness and suggest to
them that certain habits are injurious to
health. In this connection Brother Barn
abas told me a funny story: "There
came a boy her not long ago" he said,
"who seemed at first to be a hot-blooded
little rebel against all the forms of a
breeding gentler than that of the streets.
At dinner, tha Unt even lug, h looked
THE HOME GABDEN IS CULTIVATED WITH
INTEREST. AND THOROUGHNESS
with disgust upon the napkins, 'Nap
Ins' he said. 'Napkins Gee. what a
Joint.' No notice was taken of this out
burst, however, and by the end of a week
this same boy was using his napkin with
as much satisfaction as his companions.
Source of tbe Recruits.
"But where you you find your boys?" I
asked.
"Oh, here, there . and everywhere,"
answered the Brother. "Some we are
told of by other boys already in the home,
some are recommended by the protector
ate, others we ourselves find wandering
homeless about the streets, and still oth
ers come to us through the Influence of
our patrons and directors. Although we
are a Catholic Institution, we are also
"catholic" this with a smile "In that
our boys may be of any denominations.
We have no enforced religious observ
ances save the grace before the meal,
and It matters not in what condition a
boy comes to St. Philips' Homes, al
though only those of good moral char
acter and industrious habits are retained.
If a boy. no matter what his past, be
willing to take advantage of the oppor
tunities here, both educational and
ethical, but a short time elapses until one
sees a decided change in the street waif.
He shows a new ambition, owing to. the
raising of his standard of living and
evinces a very practically demonstrated
desire to become honest, self-supporting
and a useful member of whatever his
station in life."
Sunday Baseball.
The first time I visited St. Philips'
Home I was met by the disappointing
news that Brother Barnabas was away,
but a red-cheeked boy of 14 offered, most
politely to conduct me to the ball field,
where he said I would And Brother John
umpiring a ball game. '
What!" I exclaimed. "Baseball on
Sunday?"
"Oh, yes, indeed," he said. "We al
ways are allowed to play Sunday after
noons." And I soon found that the Brothers con
sider there was nothing better for the
growing boy after a week of labor than
Innocent and hearty exercise in God's
good air. The walk was a fairly lone one,
as the ball field lay down the river, and
the boy,, seeing that T was interested,
waxed enthusiastic over the various
teams, of which he explained there were
four,, from the, -seniors down . to the
midgets, as the smallest lads were can
nily named.
I questioned him on many points, and
he told me that all the boys paid their
own board, differing in amount accord
ing to the wages earned, thus, of course
doing away with any idea of charity and
Inculcating In them a spirit of self
dependence and self-respect and an eager
ness o achieve good positions for them
selves on their own merits. Each boy
also pays for his own clothing, no matter
how small a sum, and a more neatly clad,
fresh-looking set of lads I never beheld.
No uniformity of costume prevails. Each
boy selects his own clothing, thus
downing any Idea of institutionalism and
developing Individuality of choice even in
small matters. The boy also told me
that they had "no end of fun at the
home, and were Just like one great, big
family." and that when the boys left the
home to board with some family either
in town or country, as best suited to the
nature of the employment they chose,
they felt "awfully homesick at times"
and came back to visit Just as often as
they could, to see the boys and the Broth
ers. In fact, he spoke of it as I have often
heard men refer to their college reunions.
He said: "When a boy comes back, if he
has been getting on well he often adds to
the bank account opened with Brother
Barnabas when he was here. If things
hare gone badly with him, why, he al
ways knows he can get help here and a
new start that is, if he's been good," he
added, reflectively. So I went down to
the ball grounds and, meeting Brother
John, watched part of a well-played
game.
' The Ruling Spirit.
It was left for a second visit to meet
the ruling spirit of the home Brother
Barnabas. He said It would be a better
way for me to get a real idea of the
boys' life and their satisfaction in it to
come and dine with them some evening,
right as one of them, than to go by any
data concerning the work with which he
could furnish me.
"But would It not embarrass them," I
asked, "to have a stranger, and particu
larly a woman, come informally among
them?"
"Not at all," he replied. "We have vis
itors all the time, for one of our chief
aims i3 to accustom our boys to the
usages of polite society so that they may
feel at ease in any company. Come un
expectedly at any time and bring any
friends you wish."
So on a lovely September day two
friends and myself entered the Dykman
estate grounds and. walking up to the
house, inquired of a group of boys for
Brother Barnabas. All looked at us with
polite, well-bred Interest, but wlthout
curiosity. Just as any group of little gen
tlemen might glance at strangers entering
private grounds.
The brother was very- pleased to see
us, and, as he was at the moment en
gaged, had one of his assistants and
a couple of boys to show us over the
magnificent estate. It 1b said that
beautiful surroundings tend toward
some culture, and if this true, , one
could not wonder that the boys were
so uniformly courteous and not with
that forced courtesy that comes from
being told "how to behave." but with
a truly easy grace. They showed us
the conservatory, the picturesque rustic
bridges, the walks through a maze of
shrubbery as any host might show his
guests, aiyi when we admired some-of
the flowering trees, gallantly filled our
arms with blossoms. Show me an
institution boy who could so . deport
himself or even any boy of good fam
ily from fashionable boarding schools!
The Home Iilfe. . ,
Returning to the house, Brother
Barnabas . took us in charge and we
went from garret to the chefs de
partment In the. basement, where ev
erything was as neat and clean aa
could be. . We saw . the airy bedrooms
furnlBhed with army cots,, and the more
luxurious beds In private rooms - for
any sick member of the family. We
saw the laundry tubs of the great
mansion, each with an Ingenious
shower attached for the boys to -use
after exercising, and Anally we were
led to the large dining hall, where my
friends and I were separated, each be
ing put at a different table with three
or four boys of various ages.. The plain
dinner was most excellent, a good,
thick soup, a roast with vegetables
they grow them on their own grounds
and finally a heaping plate of ice
cream and a generous piece of pie, fol
lowed by coffee. In our honor Brother
Barnabas treated us and all the boys to
"St. Philips' Champagne." No, I am
not going to tell you what It was. Tou
must go for yourself and see. "A11
Interested friends are welcome!" as
Brother Barnahas sayaT Suffice It to
say that It was sparkling and delici
ous. "It is our object." said Brother
Barnabas, "to give each boy our in
dividual attention; to train hiB own
particular eye In the way best fitted
to make him an estimable and useful
citizen. The boys come here and we
find them positions, and they live here
in the home until we think them fitted
to be received into some respectable
home, which we have found suitable
as a boarder. Some have learning to
ward country occupation those are
sent there. Others cling to the city,
and we save them from being cor
rupted by vicious boys of their own
age, by giving them a happy home to
live in, with clean, wholesome pleas
ure for a nominal sum not In excess
of what they can afford to spare from
their incomes. We have ah earnest
board of directors in Mr. Frederick W.
Floyd, Mr. Richard A. Gowan, Mr.
Robert J. Hogart and Mr. George B.
Robinson, - and it shows what stand
ing our boys attain when you find
them in. good positions with prominent
firms. Since 1902 about 500 boys have
passed under the influence of our
home and of this number 75 per cent
are doing well, leading self-respecting
Christian lives. - Of the balance some
are doing but indifferently, but verfcr
few have gone "entirely away from the
teachings and principles we endeavored
to have them Imbibe here."
Whence the Financial Support.
I. asked him if they received many
that
229; rank and file, 117; total, 14S2.
Amonir the colonial troops 16 officer
and 195 men perished.
When Adam found that he was lata
I wonder what excuse he made?
He could not blandly tell his. mate
while presents of books, pictures. w" n Te" E aey.a;
Because acme clerk had gone away,
contributions and he told me
When Adam Got Home Iate.
Chicago Record -Herald.
WhAti Eve nat in the shade at night
And waited while the momenta passed
Of course she did not have the right
When Adam come in haste at last
To call him names or pull his hair
Or turn her back to pout or pine.
Because her loving: husband n'er
Brought any strangers home to dine.
games and outings were gratefuly re
ceived, he preferred any other dona
tions to come in the form of a person
joining the home as a patron. To be
come such costs $10 and no single sub
scription is allowed to exceed that. By
becoming patrons people visit the
home and show a personal Interest i
the work and the boys, encouraging
them by friendly intercourse.
Presently we adjourned to the music
room, where an altogether unexpected
pleasure awaited us. Under the direc
tiop of an able musical director the
boys had assembled with every sort of
Instrument, and very creditably per
formed several selections and ended
with - a rousing song;, "St. Philip's
Home' in which everybody joined with
enthusiasm. The thought of what was
and what "might have been" In the
lives of these boys so earnestly sing
ing was enough to bring tears to one's
eyes tears of rejoicing. We were all
so pleased that w entirely missed
an engagement we had In the city and
took our departure In haste, escorted
to the subway by several of the boys.
If, every city in the United States
would adopt the St. Philips idea and
model a home of Its own along- the
same lines, what blessings might re
sult. Aa Brother Barnabas says, "the
field is larsje and there is room for
many such."
Germany's War Losses In Africa. -
London Express.
Germany's war in Southwest Africa
has cost $50,000,000, which has been
spent overcoming the resistance of one
or two native tribes. The losses in
action were heavy. Eighty-six com
missioned officers were killed and the
non-commissioned officers numbered
There was a lack of lodges, too,
In good old father Adam's day.
He could not tell her that a train
. Had Jumped the track and gone
smash.
Nor that he had remained to gain
A little extra bunch of cash ;
He could not hand his wife a check
To be for her exclusive use,
Thus making her fall on his neck
Without demanding an excuse.
Tet Adam's case was not so bad.
He had no boss to serve, 'tis true;
The extra duties that he had
Were far between and very few;
But If upon his sleeve a hair
By any chance was ever blown.
Eve never atked how It got there.
She always knew it was her own.
The Ideal Ho tees.
Fuck.
Tou are not greeted by the maid. SHE opens
wide the door:
Buch warmth her we 1 com trigs pervade they
thrill you to the core.
Tou step into the living-room (Familia non
est).
One lamp relieves the tender gloom, ana
Johnny is suppressed.
Perhaps a tire Is burning bright; before aa
easy chair;
Or bettar still, a softer light is shea from,
two eyes there.
At first you "talk of many things
While slip the moments by;
But soon Time swiftly, softly brings
The talk of "you and I."
The light is dim, the fire Is low.
No doubt you guess tlw rest;
A pensive sigh the ember's glow
You do what you think best.
"Good night." "Don't go! That clock U
fast."
(The tale is quickly told.) '
"NoJ No!" "Oh come, this is the last!
. . "My, but your nose is cold!''