The Jeffersonian. [volume] (Stroudsburg, Pa.) 1853-1911, 1854-11-16
To Parents.

:
! We commend the following excellent
extract to the particular attention of par
ents. We are confident that there are
very many who may profit by its peruSal !:
1t makes one less hopeful of the future
to pass through our streets Of all evening
and listen to the rude and profane speech
es which proceed from crowds OF boys,
who ought, at such times, to be under the
home roof, Parents do not realize the
responsibility which rests upon them in
these matters. They forget that the fu-
ture character Of their children is almost
entirely under their control. We believe
that in most cases the parent may mould
the character of his child as he will, and
if,when the child arrives at manhood, he
is source of sorrow and disgrace to I've
parent, the only consolation which the
parent can obtain, is that it is his or her
own work. The parent may, even in
village such as this, select the intimate
companions of his children. He should,
at least, know the character of those with
whom they associate on terms ofintimacy.
There are children whose very compan-
ionship is pollution. You may as we'll
expect that your children may roll in the
mud without being bedaubed, as that
they may mingle with bad boys, as COM
panions, and not be in some degree
debased.
BOYS OUT AT NIGHT--I have been an
observer, yes l am sympathizing lover
of boys. l like to see them happy, cheer
full gleesome. Indeed ] can hardly un-
derstand how a high-toned, useful man
can be the ripened fruit of boy who
had not enjoyed full share of the glad
privileges due to youth. But while l
watch with very jealous eye all rights
and customs which infringe upon the
proper rights of boys, l am equally sp-
prehensive lest parents who are not fore
thaughtfull, and who have not habituated
themselves to close observations upon
this subject, permit their sons indulgen.
cies which are almost certain to result in
their generalization, if not in their total
ruin; and among the habits which have
observed tending most surely to ruin, l
know of none moreprominent than that
of parents permitting their sons to be in
the streets after nightfall. 1t is ruinous
to their morals in all instances, they ac-
quire under the cover of night, an un-
healthful state of mind-bad, vulgar, i'm
moral and profane language, obscene
practices, criminal sentiments, lawlcss
and riotous bearing. Indeed, it is in the
street after nightfall that the boys prin-
cipally acquire the education of the bad,
and capacity for becoming rowdy, disso-
lutte and criminal men. Parents, should,
in this particular: have rigid and infex
ible rule, that will not permit son, un-
der any circumstances whatever, to 20
into the streets after nightfall, with
view of engaging in outdoor sports, or
to meet other boys for social chance oc-
cupation. A right rule of this kind, in
varably adhered to, will soon deaden
the desire for such dangerous practices.
Boys should be taught to have pleas
ures around the family centre table, in
reading, in conversation, and in quiet
amusements. Boys are seen in the strets
after nj ghtfall, behaving in a manner en-
tirely destructive of all good MORALS
Fathers and mothers keep your children
home at night and sec that you take
pains to make your homes pleasant,
attractive, and profitable to them; and
above all, with view of their secur-
ity from future destruction. let them not
become, while forming their characters
for life, so accustomed to disregard the
moral sense of shame as to openly vio-
late the Sab6ath-day in street pastimes
during its day or evening hours.