112 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



five could scarcely have full justice done them either during the first 

 hour, when a large room and a small gymnasium are all they have to 

 play a wonderful variety of games in, or during the last hour, when 

 the allotted time would be insufficient for each boy to have his part 

 in the discussion of the many subjects that come before the club for 

 consideration. 



Each of the two hours of the club's session has its special signifi- 

 cance. During the first the boys and the large room with its many 

 opportunities (and limitations also) represent the conditions of a 

 primitive society, for the only law which seems necessary to make 

 every one happy is a simple one, and is applied in this hour in its 

 simplest way. This law is " perfect freedom for all, bounded only 

 by the freedom of others." No one thing could teach the princi- 

 ples of this great law better than games, for not only must it be 

 obeyed within each game, but it must be constantly observed in the 

 relations of one to another, when, in a very limited space, many 

 different kinds are being played at the same time. 



Visitors have often seen some of the boys in " ISTo. 1 " playing 

 modified baseball in the main part of the room, and others practicing 

 trapeze and dumb-bell exercises in the gymnasium, while in odd 

 corners and other available spots of both rooms boxing and wrestling 

 matches were taking place at the same time that the more quiet 

 boys were playing at tables the games that better suited their natures. 

 All the boys realize so well that each one of them must make some 

 concession for the good of all and for the safety of property, that 

 these games are played with the utmost good nature, apparently 

 great pleasure, and safety not only for the members but for the 

 pictures and gas shades which decorate the walls. 



During this first hour a great deal of noise is allowed; but it is 

 only in harmony with the law of freedom that, should it become 

 annoying, it must cease. During the usual amusements of this first 

 hour, however, no one can fail to notice how noise adds to the spirit 

 of gayety, and how it increases physical activity. Indeed, has a 

 silent game of tag or baseball ever been heard of? 



In this hour the director interferes as little as possible, although 

 she is obliged, three or four times, to suggest some adaptation by 

 which a greater number of boys can enjoy themselves. She can 

 not remember a time, however, in which it has been necessary for 

 her to more than suggest the change. Such a thing as dismissing 

 any of the boys, or threatening to dismiss them if they will not ac- 

 cept the suggestion, is unheard of. In the experience of this writer 

 all normal children prefer right to wrong. If one believes this, 

 one must see at once that it is only fair to give them the chance 

 voluntarily to do right first. The question, "Is this just, is this 



