Show IN THE MATTER MATTE R OF BOYS CLUBS richfield utah december 29 1921 dr 11 marklis Mar kiis editor richfield reaper richfield utah dear mr markus arkus Nl I 1 read with considerable interest your editorial in the reaper of december loth relative to the matter of boys clubs I 1 venture to suggest some other phases of the situation that I 1 believe are worthy the careful consideration of the citizens of richfield I 1 have heard quite a number of objections to boys clubs I 1 have heard that such organizations necessarily mean late hours card games probably for small amounts of money loafing and generally speaking places where a number of petty vices might have their inception I 1 at once admit the possibility ot of such things being true I 1 do not know however r that such things actually take place if they do or do not you and I 1 and every other citizen in richfield must take the responsibility of the situation ly whether bether it is good or bad I 1 understand there are now five clubs in richfield the people do not know what vb at takes place in the rooms all we know is that certain houses in the city are gathering places for certain young men whether the things that go on inside are just right or not I 1 hold that such clubs at the best do not afford and cannot afford the best kind of recreation for high school boys but the fact that the boys have gone ahead and organized them and in some cases equipped them is no indictment thoy they must have recreation school takes care of the day activities most of the week homes generally funish nothing that appeals the boys must be with the gang ric richfield ifield finishes funis hes no public place of recreation where the gang spirit may be worked oft off the only alternative is join a club and play pool or cards or checkers or read or loaf or do whatever the surroundings of the club suggest in the eighth grade and high school in richfield we have boys of 0 these are arc of high school age they are looking for som some wholesome recreation these long winter evenings As citizens we have furnished nothing the boys waited tor for us then when we ne refused to act they did what they could for themselves I 1 am not in favor of the club or fraternity spirit in high school but we have the facts to face and unless we do something constructive constructs i ve we should not complain at the initiative shown by the young men in providing for their own wants to me this is only another evidence that we need to take up again the matter of a community play ground both for summer and winter I 1 hope the new city administration will find it possible to make at least a small beginning toward the permanent solution of this pressing problem I 1 attach a poem give them a place to play by denis A mccarthy cCarthy I plenty of room tor for dives and dens glitter and glare and sin plenty of room tor for prison pens gather the criminals in plenty of room tor for jails and courts willing enough to pay but never a place for the lad to race no never a place to play plenty of room tor for shops and stores mammon flammon must have the best plenty of room for running sores that rot in the cites breast plenty of room for the lures that lead the hearts of 0 the youth astray but never a cent on a playground spent no never a place to play plenty of room for schools and halls plenty of room tor for art plenty of room for teas and balls platform stage and mart proud is the city she finds a place for many a fad today but ashes more than blind if she tails falls to find A place for the boys to play give them a chance for innocent sport give them a chance for fun better a playground plot than a court and a jail when tho the harm is done give them a chance it if you stint them now cow tomorrow to morrow have to pay A larger bill tor for a darker ill III so give them a chance to play A J ASHMAN |