IRROR- No. 41 STRATFORD, ONT., FRIDAY, MARCH 26, 1926 Vol. 3 Is An Integral Part of Our City's Life | The Stratford Young Men's Chris- | tian Association is an integral part of our city's life. It serves the commun- ity in co-operation with the churches, in the moral and spiritual uplift of young men and boys. It is the priwvi- liege of every citizen to support the niovement morally and financially In every respect the Young Men's Chris- tian Association is a civic movement meeting a great need. With respect to boys' work, there has been no movement that has given such widespread, scientific leader- ship to the boys, as the Y. M. C. A. In the beginning the Y. M. C. A. was primarily a man's movement. The first approach to boys' work took the form of social service by association members among poor boys. In 1869 the. first boys' depart- ment was festablished and in 1885 the first boys' camp. Soon it became a regular part of the Y. M. C. A. pro- gram to give boys space in the Y. M. Cc. A. buildings and to have their ac- tivities encouraged by traimed lead- ers. Now boys' work is an important pnase of the "Y' movement. More Than seven hundred officers are em- ployed as boy leaders. Nearly 250,- 000, or one-fourth of the membership in the United States and Canada are boys. Last year theré were some 81,- 000 boys in the Y. M.-C. A. camps. Boys in foreign lands are coming iato their own under association leadership. Manhood begins in the teens, that is why the Y. M. C. A. does not con- fine its activities to those who have -yeached maturity. Any boy, every -y, from school or factory, from rail- road or office, black or white, rich or poor, may participate in the Y. M. C. A. program if he is between the ages cf 12 and 18, Every one knows that the quality of the future citizen ship of the country is potential in the ten million boys growing up today. The Y. M. C. A. is one of the chief mediums through which organized effort is made to insure the development of an_ all- round, serviceable quality." Through the promotion of healthful PHONE Fos Ld 4 c BDZ ALBERT ST. The Thought of Spring Makes People More Happy Have you noticed the different ex- pressiions on the faces of the people / you meet today and those of a few weeks ago? By this you can tell that spring is almost here. One cannot help but notice how impressionable man is, and how responsive he is tv even the changes in the weather. He is influenced by the sunshine and the rain. It takes so little to make him sad, and so little to make him glad. When. the weather is bright and cheerful. we find Ourselves tuning in to the selfsame spirit, and it would ' appear that we are really a product 'of nature, because of our responsive- ness to its moods. At this time of the year the soul of man, like the soul of nature, pulls out new stops. While similar experiences may have been previously felt, yet the impulses of every spring are as though they ate ours for the first time. It's one of the marvels and mysteries of life that those who are receptive to its joys and delights feel their spirits forever being renewed and _ refresh- ed. But no one can keep from realizing how feebly words essay the majesty and beauty of the different seasons as they come and go. In this we are particularly favored for in that no matter whether we be poor or rich, we can enjoy the charm that comes with every season of the year, and while enjoying the beauties of spring we should remember the lines of the + poet who wrote: As out of the vanishing winter The tender blossoms bring With their beautiful color and fra- grance A vision of smiling spring; So out of life's dark canyons Life's choicest flowers may grow, And the foe night will have an end In the morning's golden glow! Advent of Spring Will Bring New Organizations With will ecme the organization of the various branches of summer sports, baseball, softball, lacrosse and soccer, will in ail probability be the chief pastime attractions. The Bards will furnish us with baseball at Dufferin Park again, as will the City League, with their twilight games and one of the best seasons is looked froward to. With the annual crop of new hockey material for next year, should come new faces for Bill Gerby's Indian line- up. The faithful Bill wil keep a guiding hand over them during the _summer months, turning them over to Roy Brothers in the fall in the pink of condition. Softball will take stronger than ever this year, according to chatter at present three team have the cham- pionship in their grip. Nothing like boosting your team and feeling con- fident, but boys, you had better win your games first and crow afterwards. Lacrosse fans are starting to talk about Canada's own national summer game with enthusiasm. Local lacrosse players and fans will see the new managing editor of the- Beacon-Her- ald on the green sward this summer tossing the bal laround. Mr. Ken- nedy is one of the old-timers at this game and he will follow all move- ments in this line very closely as well as impart his knowledge to the boys. In soccer circles they are also quite the advent of spring | ' cheerful and look forward to an ex- ceptionally good year. in the intermediate and junior W. F. A. Bill (Pat) Cameron says he will be right on the job again this year with the lemonade jug. All who have iasted of this will sure be on deck | physical activities, high standards of | sportsmanship, Christian ideals of be- | | havior, the all-round development of | thousands spirit, mind and body, the Y. M. C. A. helps make our. growing citizens a benefit to tomorrow's world. Through sports and physical train- ing is laid the foundation for health- ier manhood. The investment in boys which many of citizens are making through the Y M. C. A., is yielding dividends beyond money. Goodwill for a business is built by. good goods, service and truthful ad- vertising --E. R. Waite. again. er ) SEND IT.IN If you have a bit of news, Send it in; Or a joke that will amuse, Send it in; A story that is true, An incident that's new, We want to hear from you. Send it in; Don't wait a month to do it, Send it in; Don't let 'em beat you to it, Send it in; Something serious or a jest, Just which ever you like best, The Editor will do the rest, Send it in. eg aol | There is, however, a limit at which forebearance ceases to be a virtue. With teams The Elk's Club Frolic Pleases Crowded House Oh, it was a real entertainment, was the Elks Club frolic. Merriment and laughter was profuse and as the hours got smaller the jokes seemed bigger. Those responsible for. organizing. the' frolic' were: H. B:.- Lamb, ,A. Haigh, Earl Pounder, H. S. Morrow,. G. Forbeck, Larry Swift, Les Smythe and Doctor "Bill' Hamilton, Jack Weitzel, Olin Brown, R,. T. McMorranm and members of the "Brother Bill' family. Exalted Ruler Harry Booth should be proud of his position. He made two personal appearances on _ the stage. The artists who made the show a success were the Melvilles, Dick aber, in "Echoes of France,' Gladys Green and company, Bob White, and the Faber-Kelly team, all members of the regular pro. bill, and the amateur offerings of Albert Pequegnat, Haigh, Brown and Pequegnat, Doctor 'Bill" Hamilton, and others. The last, al- though not mecluded in the printed program, joined in the fun and aided and abetted by their co-workers meas- ureably elevated the proceedings with a satisfying performance. Chapman's melodists wound up the program with some stellar '"Charlestoning" by Jerry Robbins. For the amateurs, Haigh, Brown and Pequegnat were the bright spots "in the dark." IN FAVOR OF USING MONEY TO ENDOW A WARD On Sunday afternoon veterans of the world war of Stratford and Perth County will gather in the Classic Theatre for the purpose of discussing the disposal of their share of the Canteen Fund. It has been variously estimated that from $15,000 to $20,000 will come to Perth County. Some very good suggestions A certain section of the have been offered. returned soldiers here is in favor of | using the money to endow a ward in | the hospital which would be at the disposal of needy veterans and their wives and children in time of sick- ness. Another proposal has been made that the money be used to erect a | elnub-house with accommodation for out-of town visitors. Both are good suggestions and both will get considerable support on Sun- day. Nothing, however, will be ac complished if veterans do not turn out en masse and discuss the matter from every angle.