Smyrna times., 1871-07-26
Boys Using Money.

part OF education Ii so, can 1t begin too
early, or be neglected with safety? And o
where else can it be taught SO well as in the :
home of childhood? In the case Of boys, a n
writer in the CongregatjonalSt urges upon !
parents course of careful training. and says
The temptations which beset a young man Il
are never greater than when he first begins to- "
spend money on his own account. In the case !,
OF most young men the power Of these temp
tations is largely increased from the fact thai q
they had no training whatever in the use Of !
money. Many boy goes fatally wrong upon
entering college, because he finds himself then,
for TIE first time, with money in his pocket,
whilst he is without education and without
sense in the matter Of spending it. Many a
clerk is ruined ia the same way.
Why should it not be 50? Everybody is
aware that the heads Of gr0Eh people are
turned by the sudden accession OF wealth. The
fOllies committed by those who Unexpectedly
become rich, are matters of universal recogni
ton and universal ridicue. Why should boys
be wiser than men? Why, with greater temp
tatiOns, should they have more selt-cOntrOl
than grown people? The officers of our large
schools and colleges are urgent in the entrea-
ties they make of parents not to furnish their
sons an abundance of pOcket-mOney. The un-
| happy results of this are continually before
their eyes. But the remedy lies further back.
! They should be trained from early years to the
right use of money. ltis an exciting time for
most boys when they begin to have the sense |
of manhood coming on. 1t is true intOxlca |
| ton, at Just the moment when all the passions |
are breaking into life. and when the love of
the appreciation Of companions is the strongest, !
to feel " am now to be my own master
And it is simply tempting the devil to add to
the power OF this intoxicatiOn by letting boy
awake precisely then to the unused feeling,
p" have money in my hands, and can do as
please with it. f" And yet this can hardly be
avoided. A young man, in the matter OF
spending in other things, cannot be kept
forever in leading strings.
The true method is to teach him to spend
wisely; to begin early, and diligently to train
him to use money for himself. and to use it
well. Parents must of course judge for them
selves what arrangement it is wise to make.
l But suppose that when your boy is ten years
old you furnish him an allowance sufficient to
buy his shoes and gloves. Let it be large
f enough to cover also such trihes as a boy
e needs, and whatever it is right he should give
: away. He will be proud Of the trust you place
. in him. lie will gladly seek your all in full
filling L. lie will, moreover Willingly consent
4 and this it thing of indispensable impor-
q tanccl to keep an exact account OF his eXp4n-
e ses. Ia this way, aud by en'arging the allow
d ance as circumstances permit par ats may
T. hope graIully to accuStOm their chli lrcn to
: the use OF money, and to prepare them for the
time when they shall control entirely their own
: expenses.
e Much might be said concerning the many
t advantages that would result from such a
. course. Poor children might be taught, not
: only TO spend prudenty but to save carefully,
e if any object required, and especially to give,
y from true principle and out of a loving heart.
+ Our children are too much restricted In their
e power of making others happy.
If But We pass this by, to say wo.d about the
d confidence that may come to be established IN
10 this way between the boy and his parents
ic The child 5 best safeguard is not the tore Of
parents, but hearty confidence between him
Is and them Happy will be your boy II YOU
it shall win such a trust from him as shall lead
ID him gladly to admit you to a share in all his life
re A sad thing it is when he no longer tells YOU
v what he does with his evcnings--a sad anc
IN omnlous thing when he begins to incur expen
IN ses of which he is unwilling TO have you know
I'd Fore>tal SO far as possible, the danger ot this
sll Let him have money at an age when he vii
he naturally seek your sympathy in the use OF 1t
to Trust begetS trust Your confidence in hin
Cd will awaken his in you. 1t will appeal to hi
d, honor This, which is SO strong in boys, an
Id goes so fearfuy wrong often, be at pains to Sc
1t, right 1t is fears other and better side.
Of is love strongest side. Make it, in your son
tn mighty pledge Of his confidence in you
n In few years, If this boy lives, it will b
dy the most important practical question that ca
re- be asked concerning him "Docs he know
on how to use money! Teachers will watch col
Use cerning this. His employers will ask about
ry anxiously. His answer to it will be potent
l." determine his life. For ours is a day whe
we most men have more to do with money tha
ely with anything else The mghtiest passion
ne are involved in it. And as man spends, S
lat is he.