American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1873-11-08
WHERE SHALL OUR CHILDREN
SPEND THEIR EVENINGS!

| 1t is not of the manageable portion OF
society we wish to speak. We allude to
those half way between childhood and
youth great increasing host; too big to
be put to bed out of the way at shutdown,
full of animal spirits, warm with social
| instincts, longing to entertain and be en-
tertained, interested in a thousand things
that are foolishness in the eyes of maturity
pictures, games, rOmps-it is to these
we would call attention, for these we put
in plea when we ask, Where shall our
young folks spend their evenings.
"NOt in my parlor, assure yOu," ex-
claims Mrs. Fusabout. I'm not going
to have my young folks taking crowd in
| there to soil, deface and destroy-not l,
| indeed! And as to having them here
where l am, l couldn't stand that no way !;
they would drive me crazy in a week with
their endless chatter
Hundreds of notable housekeepers bran
| dish their dustpans before that sacred
| realm, 1.-THE parlor,' at the veriest hint of
an invasion, and echo Mrs. Fusabout's
cutlery.
Mother, can't we go into the parlOr?"
We were two girls shivering in the
damp air of an evening in September
two girls just budding into woman-hood,
that critical period when both soul and
body need the tenderest care and vigi-
lance. The woman addressed had come
close by, and was ready TO sleep on the
sermon. Not so her daughter. That
young brain was alive with busy tancies;
no end of pleasant condolences were busy
at her tongues tip to be transferred to the
sympathiZing heart beside her; her pulse
thrObbed high with youth and hope; she
had no desire to shorten her days by
single hour. And what was her answer?
I'm the parlor, indeed, l think not,
rl for ont I,
on the steps, you can come in and go to
bed"
Those poor young things had shivered
there an entire evening; but what did it
matter? Perchancc many an after pain
and ache, which should by right have re-
coiled upon the parent, reached the ten
der frame of her woman child. SO the
precious parlor remained undesecrated,
what did it matter? 1t mattered much, o
wives and mothers, quick to wipe away
the least suspicion of a cloud on your
window panes, SO indifferent TO the cloud
ed eyes of your offspring; so indetatiga-
BILE in keeping stains from carpet or cur
tains, so careless of the one that may have
crept into the soul of son or daughter;
whose nerves are steady under sound of
poker, hammer, scrubbing- brush, and
broom, and entirely upset by the patter of
childish feet, game of romps, a whistle,
drum, or crying doll; who, with washing,
ironing, baking, carpetrags, canning, and
all the various duties of the notable house
wife, can Glitter up'' Il room from daylight
until bedtime, and take genuine satisiac-
ton in it, too yet can not endure stray
hat or apron, or a few scattered toys. We
say such things matter much, since every
species of injustice, however small or
trivial shielded under whatsoever pre-
tense, will some day, most aSSurcdly, re
coil upon the perpetrators thereof.
Il never have known any one who al
lowed their boys to occupy the parlor of
an evening, or bring company in the house
at ALL" Such is the testimony of a lady |
who for several years has been Il teacher |
in one of our public schools; and how |
many, many witnesses could set their seal |
thereto.
Walk out any time before ten, on a
pleasant evening, almost anywhere in our |
large cities, and you will see dozens of
young girls, mere children, of the most |
respectable parentage, strolling around |
the streets, or sitting on the steps, for the |
purpose of enjoying those social priv |
leges denied them in their homes. These
either 30 to school or to work during the |
day. Then comes the long evening. Youth |
very naturally desires recreation and the |
companionship of their own age. If home
is not really a home, but only place
where they are allowed 10 eat, drink, and
sleep, what Is lett them but 10 take 10 the
streets, iraterniZing with others equally rs
unfortunate as themselves?
Most people think boys take naturally
to the street; that is because they are not
allowed to be boys in the house, With
his mind always open TO the wise and
thoughtful supervision of parents whose
law is love, a little roughing in the street
never yet hurt a growing lad, but to leave
him with no other recourse but staguation
or the street is criminal.
The days are growing short, the nights
cold, and rosy, rolicking girls will be
Obliged to remain indoors, and only the
boys be left out. We shall see them cliis-
tcring with their cronies around the store
windows, in II circle about the street
lamps, anywhere where light seems to i'm
part something of warmth aud good
cheer; we snail see them slapping their
numb hands together and dancing about
to keep life in their half frozen bodies.
Bright brave boys most of them are, too,
yet we trcmble for their future, since their
very presence is II living testimony To the
fact that parents are too many, fathers