The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1874-04-03
WHAT ABOUT OUR BOYS2

We know of no question more
serious in all its bearings than the
above. Parents ought to be most
anxiously and prayerfully in earn
est about tEis matter. The country
is interested. If our boys turn cut
well, if they prove to be good, in
dustrious, moral men, they will be
q blessing to the country. If they
prove to be idling, lounging, smok-
ing, drinking, swearing, Sabbath
breaking, good for nothing men, it
would be better for the country to
bury every one of them. If they
are to grow up a set of vagabonds,
unqualified for business or work,
they will be burden to their pa
rents and a curse to the world.
But what shall we do with our
boys? This is the question. The
almost universal answer is, "edu
cate them" AL right. Let us do
the best we can in that respect. A
good education, properly appreciat-
ed, is a great blessing. We say
again, educate.
But we are afraid this idea of ed.
ucation is greatly abused. We can
find some of the most impractical.
BILE, helpless, not to say useless
men who have enough of school ed.
ucation, so far as that matter is con.
cerned. Education is only one
part of the make up of a real man
Education without industrious hab'
it is useless ornament.
A mistake is made here which
needs correction. We send oul
boys to school until they have &
smattering of the rudiments CT ar
education, and straightway con
clude that they are untitled fol
work of any kind. We don't wan
our educated boys to learn trades
or farm it; these mean work. Oul
boys are "smart" enough to liv,
without work. Being educated
we expect them to enter some pro
fession, or teach, or do something
to get away from work. We max,
the impression on their minds tina
laboring men are of the lower class
That they are too good and smart Il
hammer iron, push plane, O.
drive team. Away with such al
idea. 1t must be banished from
our minds; and our boys must b,
made to feel that it is an honor t.
earn living with their own hands
Our boys must know that an edu
cation does not disqualify them TO
tradesmen or famers. We mus
all feel that, though laboring lneI
are "mud-sills," our republic could
not endure very long withou
them. We need and must have
these same ''mudsiIls; ;" but WI
have no use for your fancy idlers
What shall we do with our boys
Put them to work. Give then
something to do while they ar,
boys. Select some trade or bust
ness for them and put them at i
now. School or no school, see to i
that your boy is forming industriou
habits. Givehim something to do
and keep him away from idlers
Idlers are the DEVILS emissaries t.
ruin your boy forever.
Place some object before him fol
which he is to work and live
Keep it before him. Urge him t.
"walk worthy of his vocation ;" dc
every thing you can to stimulate
him with the idea, that success il
his calling, whatever it may be, il
worth every thing else. A success
full farmer, or carpenter, or black
smith, is worth q thousand jeweled
caned, polished, frizzled, striped
painted do nothings.
But we must stop. Let us say
again, educate, educate all you can
but be sure to give your boy work
Keep him off the streets as much al
possible. Put him at some trade
while boy. Get him to believe
that he is in for life work. Qualify
him TO make q living by hard
work; and then, if he is called to-
what some are pleased to call, the
higher walks of life, all right. The
laboring man is ready for any
thing. The idler is good for moth.
inn