Cheer Boys Cheer: The Boys' Journal, No. 62 — page 29: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

«= “When in Trouble or in Doubt, Write to Me to Help - You Out. My Dear Readers,—I have just re- turned to town after snatching a brief holiday in the country, and you may be sure that I feel all the good effects of a change of air and a brief spell of rest. "Po add to the enthusiasm with which I am taking up the work I delight in, I find my desk piled high with letters, all of them full of praise for CHEER Boys Curr, which is still adding fame to its name as the weeks go by. I. thought I would tell you that I have been away for a holiday, because only the other day I was asking you to write and tell me all about your own glorious spell of rest and change by the sea or in the country, and I think that one confidence deserves another. So don’t forget, my chums, I shall expect to hear from every one of you, and I want to have nice, long, chatty letters, telling me all about your holidays—where you went, what you did, and the adventures you had. By the way, no doubt you will have noticed that the features now appear- ing in CHEER Boys CHEER are just right for summer weather and summer holidays. I hope to publish some good complete holiday stories during the next few weeks, and, apart from these, most of the other fiction has a breezy air about it. Our great home-life serial, ‘‘ Cast on the World,’’ is packed with scenes and adventures round about the country, and Harry Huntingdon’s great. new school serial has plenty of sport in it. In addition to: this, the present issue of CurEER Boys CHEER contains the powerful long opening instalment of our striking new ‘Coral Island” serial, “ROGUES AND ROVERS.” This is just the time of the year when most of us who have young blood in our veins get a touch of the wander fever, and at such a time we find all the’ greater pleasure in reading about parts of the world that are grand fields of adventure for those of a roving spirit. Some of us like to picture ourselves as the heroes .of these adventure stories, and in the case of a story like “Rogues and Rovers,’’/it is very easy to do this, because the tale is not full of wild and impossible happenings, but describes just the scenes and adven- tures any of us might meet with in the wonderful South Seas. Are there any of my readers who have hitherto missed reading adven- ture serials? If there are, I would like to say a special word:to them. I have met the boy who does not like adventure stories, and usually I have _found his reason to be that the characters did not appeal to him, as they were not real enough. Now, in “Rogues and Rovers’’ I think I can say with confidence that this fault does not exist. Although the serial is full’ of excite-- ment and adventure, the characters are real flesh and blood, and not mere dummies to be shot at, so to speak, and never hit, as is the case in so many adventure tales. : “Rogues and Rovers”’ is a story of human error, of villainy and treachery, of staunch comradeship and_ high courage, and as such I hope and believe it will be enjoyed by every reader. CRUELTY TO ANIMALS. When I was in the country the other day I chanced upon a band of school- boys who were rifling birds’-nests and subjecting the young birds to what was nothing less than sheer torture. I am convinced that these boys, like many others I have known, were only acting out of pure thoughtlessness, for any youngster who can deliberately hurt a © living creature, knowing all the time the pain he is causing, must be little better than a fiend at heart. Tt always gives me great happiness to feel that readers of CuzER Boys CHEER are sturdy fellows with all the qualities one likes best in young man- hood—pluck, chivalry, pity for the yveak and helpless, and scorn for any- thing approaching meanness or cruelty. If, however, any chum of mine has, in a thoughtless moment, caused pain to a pet or any wild creature, I do sincerely trust he will not let it occur again. Most of us are passionately fond of animals, and the mere thought of tiny, helpless creatures being made to suffer is too painful for words. “TO-MORROW’S A NEW DAY.” Just now I was talking about the holiday stories in CHEER Boys CHEER, but there is one tale this week which deals with City life, and it is a tale that deserves special comment. When I first read this story I thought it good enough for a magazine of the highest class, but this did not deter me from accepting it for our paper. Although the story is only a very short one, it is really splendidly told, and I should like to hear what you think of it yourselves, especially those of you who work in City offices and know the temptations of business life and can appreciate the humble heroism and self-sacrifice of simple John Min. A “C.B.C.” LEAGUE. At the time CHEER Boys CHEER appeared on the market quite a number of. fellows wrote to me, asking that a league of “C.B.C.”. readers might be formed. “ At the time I thought the idea a- very good one, and it has been in my mind ever since. Up till now various reasons have prevented my carrying this suggestion into effect, but at last I begin to see my way clear towards the formation of a league.: I am convinced that if a league is oS My Address : The Fleetway House, Farringdon Street, London, E.C, if I invite all my readers to join it, the response will be im- mediate and hearty. You will all do your best to make the league success- ful, and for my part I shall spare no formed, and pains to make it .of real benefit and _ practical service to members. You will understand, my chums, that this is only a preliminary chat, and that all details will have to be dis- cussed later on. But I really think that with the approach of autumn we shall be. able to get the league success- fully launched, and when the full announcement is made you will be delighted with the privileges it offers. I shall. of course, allow every reader to become a member. CHEER Boys CHEER will be the official organ of the league, and by means of competitions and other features fellows will be able to derive profit as well as pleasure by joining, whilst all the time they will feel that happy sense of friendship which exists whenever a multitude of people are linked together by a real bond of friendship. : I trust that every reader who is interested in this announcement will let me know his opinion about the formation of a league; and, of course, I shall be very pleased to receive ideas and suggestions. You will also be doing me a great favour if you will mention to your schoolfellows, co- workers at business, and any other chums that it is intended to start a really helpful league in this paper. TO NEW READERS. There is a certain question that I wish to put to all new readers of “C.B.C.” It is this: Have you started to read the serials which you found were already running when you bought this paper for the first time? : Any new reader who fails to read our serials is losing a great treat, and there is not the least reason why he should do so. The brief synopsis at the commencement of each instalment is always kept as short as possible. At the same time, it is always sufficient to give you the complete plot of the story. Let me assure my new readers that their interest in ‘“‘C.B.C.” will be more than doubled if they will make a point of starting every serial to-day, with the assistance of the synopses where necessary. : : £5 FOR CONFESSIONS ! _I am going to start an amusing and simple contest in next Tuesday’s “C.B.C.,” with cash prizes amounting to £5. There will be no coupon collecting, and, of course, no entrance-fees. Mind you all do your level best to pull off the prizes ! oO (Alan (AIAYOAYO)Y NS (0) (An) \S ONO) NS) K t call ( =) e(0) oO) Im