Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-03-08

The foliowins remarks are IRON the
Chicago Journal of Commerce:
In our cities, where trade drives and is
exacting, and where amuscments and
fashion hold such despoiic sway, this
evil--for il is an evil-of absenteeism
from paterual and maternal duties, is a
| growing one, and threatens to injure both
individuals and society more than we may
expect. Hurried life-life too exclusive
~ confined to the counting room; life
with the crowd in the boarding house or
hotel; life that is restless and gay to. the
verge of dissipation-this sort of life,
with its obviously demoralizing effects
upon America in its teens, is quite too
common. Verify, it might properly be
said that parties have no moral right TO
be married and have the solve plants"
spring up around any table, but the ta-
bic Of their own domicile, where they can
and are anxious TO look after the welfare,
the growth, and the culture Of their off
spring. 0
The Psalmst tell us that "God> settcth
the solitary IN families which means.
We suppose, that the way people ought
to live is in households, where the nat
ural relations and the natural affections
shall have the privacy, rhe separations
| from the great bustling world aud the
concourse of people they require for their
right enjoyment and their pure and
healthfu exercise; yet hnw sadly is this
ordination Of Providence interfercd with
and disregarded, ominnIsly so, in our
great and multitudinous townsl Indeed
it is, or becoming, q very serious qhes.
ton, how what are assumed TO be the i'm
perative demands Of business, and what
are felt to be the almost irresistible So
lieitations cf society" eau be reconci-
led With o deeeptly fpithfpl regard to the
claims of domestic life. 40
We diead the street and the gutter for
the little chaps; We talk Of the premature
oldheadedness of the shoeblacks, news
boys, and athor yagahand youngsters
but really il admits of doubt whether
rags or rowdyism in blind alleys are worse
in their influence on the generation than
hotel entries and bathrooms and the CON-
pany of grooms. eoachmen, and other SER
wants. The contagion of vicious and
loose habits is not warded off by fine
clothes, and little gentlemen may get in
iected by it quite as easily, perc.hance, as
littla gamips. Certainly, terrible in
fants" in costly attire arc about as frc
quently met with as those whose chief
garments are coating of dirt. 1t is,
therefore, very, very desirable for the rich
as well as the poor, that we'll ordered fami-
ly living should not pass away, and that
the intercourse and association between
parents and their children should become
less intermittent and closer. Of what
for ones heirs and to seat them in luxury,
if, meanwhile, they are left without care.
full watching, without special ard solicit
Gus care for their moral training-a watch
ing and care that can pot be safely intrust
ed to hirelings?
1t would be well for some merchants
and professional men to put this inquiry
to themselves, as they remember how
they daily come out of their fropt doors
in the morning, not to. re.enter them til
evening, and then only to prepare for
giving portion of the night to engage
ments in which home matters haye no lot
or part Keep your boy boy while he
is boy; well behaved, polite boy; a
manly boy; courageous, self reliant
hoy; no milksop boy tied to bis mothers
skirts, but still 2 boy; not a weakling fop,
precocioas spob, conceited monkey,
aiping the airs and acquiring the habits
of grpwn up dandies and fast characters.
Don't make a self indulgent small gentle
man of him. Teach him TO wait upon
and take care of himself, and TO respect
bis interiors and treat them courteously
and kindly. Pray, save him from the
absurdity Of 0 cane and kid gloves, and
garments that are not suitable for down
right, hearty play. 1t may be pretty and
aristocratic, and sign Of your opulence
to dress him up in the hight of fashion;
but in so doing you run the risk Of spoil
ing him for any robust and useful living