The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-03-31
Home Aln;lscmeflts.
From the Syrs cuse journal

rioli eHe syracuse Journal.
Public journals daily record the vices
and crimes of society, which seem to IN
crease from month to month, while the
better portion OF communities look on.
and wonder if the devil is to have full
sway in spite of the efforts put forth by
religious and philauthropic organizations
ITO what are We coming?" eric one
"Give us the enforcement of the laws p
says another. "The fault is with the DO
lice and judicial officers" says third !;
and so on, through long catalogue of
reasons which may be correct to degree,
and yet which do not strike deep
enough.
What the Republic needs at-this mo-
ment is more home training home amuse-
ments, home education and culture and
until fathers and mothers can be convinced
of the necessity for these requisites, and
urged into the adoption of them, the
carnival of dissipation and crime will
not abate, the young will go astray, as
they are now doing, and people will hold
up their hands in horror at the degener-
acy of the age The youth of the United
States 60 to perdition more frequently
from neglect at home than from any 9th
er cause. The mechanic thinks he has
not time to look after the habits Of his
children He clothes them, feeds them,
sends them to schools, and to the Sunday
School. Perhaps he occasionally drops
words of reproof and advice, in which he
is joined by his wife; and they call that
home training. Now what more does
the business man do than the mechanic ?
scarcely so much. There is difference
in the quality of the clothes, of the food,
and the schooling; but it cannot be said
that as a rule he devotes any more time
and attention to his children than the
artisan. Admitting that the associations
of his offspring have the benefit of refined
associations, do not daily occurrences
prove that moral delinquinces are quite
as frequent among the rich as the poor?
But what should be done? We venture
to assert that if one half the parents in
United States would give their attention
for the next ten years, TO home amuse-
ments for the children ,amusements which
should involve healthful, rational enjoy
ment, the coming generation would be
stronger men and women than those OF
any preceding generation. AS people
we know comparatively little of the phil
osophy Of amusements. Parents discuss
politics and fashions, scandal and crime,
during their leisure moments at home,
while the children sit by, longing for
something to make time pass more pleas
antly and rapidly. The latter are sent
away to devise their own sport, while
fathers and mothers devote themselves
to social engagements, or personal
care.
After time the Toys find their amuse-
ments away from home, perhaps in places
of questionable repute; and the girls sud-
denly assume the airs of young ladies, and
devote themselves to late hours, recep-
tions, senseless small talk, and to beaux
noted more for their fascinating manners
than their good morals. So matters go
on quietly, until society is startled by the
announcement of unexpected crime or
awful disgrace. Such dramas are being
enacted every week Of the year. Would
not parents be repaid by devoting more
time to the amusements of home and less
to business and social pleasure?