Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1864-08-05
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There is some virtue in the science Of sta.
tistics. Lord Shaftcsbury was enabled TO
declare ii at public meeting, as an aScor.
iaiued fact, that tory.ninc out OF fifty Of all
criminals in England, convicted in after life,
commenced their career of crime between
the ages OF eight and sixteen. so that he who
has passed through his sixteenth year with
out having commenced a life Of crime against
the laws OF the country in some particular or
0thur, is almost certain never to do SO.
This probably shows to what an amazing
extent crime is the result OF bad parental
government and training. When We see q
youth under sixteen committing not only
faults and indulgng in vice, but already so
far gone as 10 become vioiator Of the laws
Of the country, we instinctiScly blame his
parents more than himself Tor it. aud in the
nine cases out Of ten we arc justified in so
doing. His crime may not have been the
direct result of any counsel and training Of
MS parents, leading him into evil courses by
their intention, but it is, generally some prin.
ciple which the youth bad been sanctioned
at home, or by those he has been taught 10
respect, pushed out practically 10 the icgiti-
mate cons, quenccs Of such principles.
Where this is not the case, there has, in
almost all instances, been an absence Of that
sort Of restraint which might easily have
kept lad clear of criminal associates The
Asiatic laws, which holds a mans family
guilty in part of his crimes, are therefore, not
so far out Of the way. Certainly it would
seem as if the parents or criminals are at the
beginning more culpablc than the criminals
themselves. ... ..-..-
Ii is not merely in regard to crime, but to
nE a., ~
all the vices which sap industry, integrity,
truth, honor, and positive virtue of every
sCrt, that the same principle may be applied.
1t iS probable that between eight aud six.
teen tho characters of most youths for good
or for evi! are sufficiently developed to afford
an almost nialbic prospectus to their future
course. II a lad is going to prove n smoker
or drinkcr, q gambler, u sweaIcr or n cheat,
he will generally have begun before he is six.
teen.
No doubt many who may have begun in a
thousa;,d owl ways, or ways that might have
poricnded evil in youth y: no ordinary dc.
gree, having sown their wild oats, have re.
formed ana become the most exemplary of
mankind, but those who between eight and
sixteen are exemplary, are almost certain to
oecomc honored and distinguished men.
Many parents, on this account, fall into the
sad mistake of trying to keep thor children
as childish as possible, hoping thus by re.
tarding the natural course Of trial and tempt
alton with them, to preserve them innocent,
and render them virtu0us through life. Yet
this course more often fails than succeeds,
because it is ess ntaly artificial, untrue and
unnatural. 1t is lsS evil usually to push
plants forward arti!ioialy than 10 keep them
back. aud so it Is with men.
Those thus retarded too often never ripcn
into men at ull, but are always immature,
even where they do not reach into the worse
vices. An inuoccnt man is nothing but an
ovcrgrown baby. No one admircs peach
blossoms in December. To keep back
youth artilic,ally in ignorance that no may
he innocent, Will never prepare him to be
strong in virtue and overcome the world.
Dr. Arnold, one of the best educators Of
youth the world has yet seen. has several
! admirable remarks on the subject, while he
complains hat many a merry, iunocont boy
is often ruined by life in public school.
He says that where n lad has had principles
Of positive virtue insthlcd into him in early
! lfe--whcre the love Of right, justice, honor
! and integrity has been ditincly tustc"cd,
| the trials Of school life make n youth strong
or, mud more ma,I'y and vigorous in all good
ways.
Let parents only occupy the years from
eight to sixteen in seeking to push hone to
their childrens hearts principles of earnest
moral self culture, and it win save them not
only from criminal, but from all those evil
courses that are the chief drawbacks from
the youths surrounding them. TO do this
| there must be much more frankncss and
confidence between parents and children
than there usually is--a letting down Of the
will that hides the hearts aud knowledge Of
parents and children from each other PNH.
aaelphia Ledger.