Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-03-31
Home Amuss ments,

Public journals daily record the vices and
crimes Of society, which seem to increase
from month to month, while the better por-
ton OF communities look on, and wonder II
the devil ia to have full sway in spite of the
efforts put forth by religious and philan-
thropic organizations. ITO what are we
coming ?" cries one, ''Give us the enforce
ment OF the laws2" says another; ''The
fault is with the police and judicial officers, .
says third and so on, through long cat
alogue Of reasons which may be correct to a
degree, and yet which do not strike deep
enough.
What the republic needs at this moment is
more home training, home amuscments,
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 abatc, the
young will go astray, as they are now do
ing, and people will hold up their hands in
horror at the degeneracy If the age The
youth of the United States go to perdtion
more frequently from neglect at home than
from any other 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 Sunday school.
Perhaps he occasionally drops words of re-
proof 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? Scarce so much. There
Is difference In the quality of the clothes,
OF the food and the schooling; but it cannot
he 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 benefits of refined
associations, do not daily occurrences prove
that moral deinquencies are quite as fire.
quent among the rich as the poor?
But what should be done? We venture
to assert that If one half of the parents in
the United States would give their attention,
for the rJSsxt ten years, to home amusements
for the 4 ldren, amusements which would
involve healthful, rational enjoyment, the
coming generation would be stronger men
and women than those of any preceding
generation. As a people we know compar-
atively little of the philosophy Of amuse-
ments. Parents discuss politics and fash
ions, scandal, and crime, during their leisure
at home, while the children sit by,
longing for something to make time pass
more pleasantly and rapidly. The latter are
sent away to devise their own sports, while
fathers and mothers devote themselves to
social engagements or personal ease.
After time, the boys 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, receptions,
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 dcvoting more time to the amusements
Of home, and less to business and social
pleasure ?-.Syrdcus Journal