New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-02-08

dren, much than 10 the churches, colleges
and schools No truism contains more truth than
that which aflrms that Satan finds mschet TOT
idle hands. As q native Of Pittsburgh fenn''
and one whose affections and Interests center
there may he allowed TO say that no city OF It's szo IN
the Union has 40 many bad boys. There were at one
time eight OF them in her jail charges OF murder OF
murderous assaults. Yet city I'm the Union mas supc
rlor religious and educational advantages In LOUISVILLE
KY, in the palmy days OF slavery when IL was common
for 10 shoot another the street III daygh'
and tho authorities thought worth while 10 ask
why there less crime among boys than there was IN
Pittsburgh; and the only explanation OF the mystery -
that the German element in Western Pennsylvania
throws all the domestic drudgcry upon women, ana
leaves the boys to get rid OF their surplus vitality az DesI
they while in any Of tho Slave states 1t was such
a browning family disgrace for the women Of to do any
kind OF work that the middle classes required their boys
TO do the greater part Of the homework wEngand
boy mlks the COW, makes the res cleans the soop the
yard the Shoes the knives the errands carries the
packages and not unrequenty washes the clothes ana
dishes for the family and takes pride in doing So be-
he has been taught that labor is honorable ana
that would be- disgaceul for him TO permit his mother
or sister 10 do such work. Kentucky boy does like
wse 10 much less disacefu for him to do 1t
himself than have n mother sister so demeaned It'll
not until he becomes man that labor degrades him. But
in Western Pennsylvania 1t is no uncommon thing 10
the mother OF family Of boys carry nod OF coal up
from collar and repenish the fire by when her nus
band and sit idly yawning, and quite at loss 10
know what to do with their brawny muscle hundred
times I have seen this done when the mother was
weighed down with disease, years, Tor both. Young
and boys there not ashamed to see Their mothers
gray hair sisters sunny curls hang over washtuo
while they amuso themselves to know that she strains
her strength to the utmost limit day after day while
they rest Fortunately there are many boys who work
10 win their bread and many who aid their mothers
in supporting younger children; and this is esteemed
highly honorable From this worthy class comes very
large proportion of her successful business men, while
the SONS Of her wealthy and middle classes furnish
an undue share OF criminals"
All this is truth, if not the deepest truth.
The children accustomed to idleness in their
fathers house viii grow up to hate work, and
mshIiled in any useful calling. They Will
fancy labor n curse, to be avoided so FAR as
possible; while they who were carly trained
to systematic industry will know better, and
act accordingly. Whatever may be the case
in some future state every human being needs
work as really as bread, and must be wretched
if he tries to live the life of an idlcr. Some
work is preferable to other pursuits; and we
blame no one for choosing the former, if ne
can find it to do and make living by It,
But the notion that labor is a curse, to be
Stunned whenever it may be, has done very
much to fill our prisons and alms-hOuses; and
the parent who does not early accustom his
his child to work, teaching him that 1t is
noble to do and base to shun it, should blame
himself mainly if that child becomes bur
glar, forger, or thief.