Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1835-07-16
"TRAIN UP A CHILD" &c.

Nothing is easier than TO repeat proverb,
and nothing more difficult than carrying it in
to execution. We can all advise each other
how to bring up children, but utterly fail in
carrying our own precepts into practice.-
When we look into our police reports-in the
list of accidents and offences--in the dire
calamities and suicides which, unhappily too
frequently occur in our large city,-we are
convinced that there are many radical defects
in precept and examplo-in our systems and
dseipine--in our laws and their administra-
tion.
Suhcrings of some kind or other in health,
in mind, in fortune, seem to fall to the lot of
every man, no matter how circumstanced or
conditioned, and the ills of life appear to be
provldentially dispensed among all classes
proving how artificial all rank and distinction
is, in the estimate of human woe.
We frequently see a rich man, who has ac-
cumulated wealth by honest industry, afflict-
ed with eXtravagunt and dissipatcd sons-or,
what is worse, an honorable and exemplary
father cursed with dishonest son, who tar
nishes, by his, a name always respected, and
brings down to the grave, in sorrow, the grey
hairs OF pure and upright life. This Is real
Iy an affiiction, because, more or less, socie-
ty at large suffers. 1t is hard to reform those
yet the vices Of mature age should admonlsh
us to guard the young shoots from equal
blight and destruction. A rich man should
bring up his son, as the poor man does, to
work and labor for himself Earhb and dc-
the, and steady employment is The secret to
bring up children apeU. No matter at what
occupation-no matter how laborous, as long
as the mind is employed-as long as atten-
IN 10 IN e
bad examples and bad company will be avoid
ed. Five or six years Of a young mans time
thus closely occupied, will confirm him in
habits of industry and his own resources of
mind and body-his own industry and enter
prize will advance him honorably and pros
perously in life. A rich father should al
ways help child when he proves his ability
to help HIMSELF and no sooner. We have no
nobility, nor titled families, nor aristocratic
distinctions; yet how frequently do we find
an indulgent rich father, who, from humble
life, has raised himself in the world, ndulg-
ing his son in extravaganza and idle habits
giving him money to spend in gayety and
iashion--at the race course, the hotel, or the
billiard room--under the delusion that he
never will want, and that he must inherit an
ample fortune. What is the result? idleness
begets vice, dissipation follows, and loss of
health, of fortune, and character is the inevi-
table result.
A rich man instead Of giving his son n few
hundreds now and then for what are called
his contingent expenses, and under the falla-
cious idea that he must make an appearance
like gentleman, should say to him, "for ev-
cry thousand dollars you earn by enterprise
and industry, will add thousand safely in
vested for you, to be used at that advanced
period Of life when you know the value of
money, and are entitled to case and comfort"
The very facility which young men have of
obtaining money, leads them into runous ex-
travagance; and when, from design or acci-
dent, their means are checked, they resort to
crime to furnish them the sources of enjoy
mcnt.
Brandy and water, and segars-a fast trot-
ting horse-a pocket book with bank notes,
gaming and late hours-arc the rocks on
which are shipwrecked many bright hopes
and alIuring prospects-the fond anticipa-
tons of good parents, and the realization of
anxously desired blessings MAJ. Moan.