American citizen. [volume] (Butler, Butler County, Pa.) 1863-1872, 1864-01-20
RnYs Ouf Affer Night.


Boys Out After Night.
We have been observers, as well as
sympathizing lovers of boys, We like to
see them happy, cheerful, glee.ome. In
deed we can hardly understand how a
high-toned useful man can be the ripened
fruit of a boy, had he not enjoyed full
share of the glad privileges due to youth.
But while we watch with a very jealous
eye all the rights and customs which en-
trench upon the proper rights of boys, we
are equally apprchensive, lest parents who
are not forethoughtful, and who have not
habituated themselves to close observation
upon this subject, permit their sons in
dulgences which are almost certain to re-
suit in their demorilization, if not their
total ruin; and among the habits which
we have observed as tending most surely
to ruin, we know of none more prominent
than that of parents permitting their sons,
(and in some cases ther daughters to be
IN tie streets after night
1t is ruinous to their morals in all in
stances. They acquire, under the cover
of the night, an unhealthful state Of mind
bad, vulgar, immoral, and profane Ian
guage, obscene practices, criminal scnti-
ments, a lawless and riotous bearing. In
deed, it is in the street after night-fall,
that the boys principally acquire the ed
ucation Of the bad, and capacity for be-
coming rowdy, dissolutc, criminal men,
Parents should in this particular, have a
rigid and inaexible rule, that viii not
permit a son, much less a daughter, I'M
der any circumstances whatever. to 60 in
to the streets after night-flll with view
of engaging in out-oEdoor sports, or meet
other boys for social chance occupation
\ right rule of this kind, invariably adj
hcred to, will soon deaden the desire for
such dangerous practises.
Boys should be taught to have pleasure
around the family centre table, in read
ing, in conversation, and in quiet amuse-
monts. Boys arc seen in the streets aE-
ter night-fall, behaving in a manner en-
tirely destructive Of good morals. Faith
ers and mothers. YOU should see to it, that
your children are kept at home at night;
it is duty you owe to them, and to the
community. You should take pains to
make your home pleasant, atgaetive, and
profitable to them; and above all, with a
view of securing from future destruction,
let them not become, while forming their
characters for life, so accustomed to dis
regard the moral sense of shame as to
openly violate the SaJbah day in street
pastimes during its day or evening hours.
The wise man has said Train up
child in the way he shou d go, and when
he is old he will not depart from it
Solomon was right; and parents and
guardians should follow his advice. You
need not try to shrh" your duty and
responsibility. We often hear it said;
that - boys, are boys, and theYmust have
their sports. This language is often
made use of by parents for the purpose of
covering their neglect of duty towards
their children. Fathers and mothers, do
you desire that your children shall Je
blessing to you, and benefit to society
If 50, do your duty; keep them off the
streets at night. There are some large
boys in our town, who ought to be asham-
ed Of themselves; their conduct is dis
graceful; they can often be found block
ing up the side walks, and lounging on the
corners; whooping and yelling in the
streets at late hour of the night, thus
unnecessarily disturbing the quiet citi-
zens of the place with their hdeous night
revelings. 1t would be much more cred
table to those young and would be, great
men, if they were at home, and engaged
IN reading some good book or newspaper,
and thus store their minds with useful
knowledge, and prepare to act well their
part as citizens of the community in which
they now, and may hereafter reside. We
have thrown out the above suggestions
and hints, for the good of all whom they
may concern, and it is to be hoped that
we will not be under the necessity of re-
-1erring to this subject again if we should
sbe, the guilty will be brought to light, and
the public informed of their true charac-
ter.
D9~ A good story is told of member