Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1874-03-05
&c., 49, sclentiae Americau.l

Ene lGlHlA
Every father of q family knows
that there is q time in the life of his
sons that gives him much trouble and
acme anxiety. We allude to the Pc
Rod Of boyhood, when exuberance
of spirits and thoughtlessness are at
their height, and when the stndies
imposed by school discipline are en-.
tireiy insufficient to find adequate
employment for their too active
minds and bodies. And it is not
possible, or even desirable, to in
crease the already considerable appli-
cation of all well bred boys 10 the
study of books and the requirement
of learning. 1t is not to be wished
that a youth of twelve should grow
no to be a eonceited would-be pedant
of twenty. and a bookworm OF thirty
years of age. Thus the task OF md
ing fitting occupation for the leisure
honrs of a bow is no inconsiderable
enc. as few pursuits into which a boy
would plunge with eagerness are
suited for putting in the way of so
much im~pulsiveuess and want of con
sideratioD as most boys possess. The
question, then, of how to amuse our
boys, is one of paramount impor-
lance and difficulty.
We would suggest, to the many
parents who have been perplexed
with this difficulty, to give their lads
every possible opportunity of &C
quifing 8 mechsnical trade. The in
dustry and ingenuity OF a boy OF
average ability may easily he made
to furnish him with q never failing
source of amusement of the best
order. The boy who can produce
or make something already begins to
feel that he is somebody in the
world, that achievement OF a result
is not a reward reserved for grown
people only. And the education of
mind, eye, and hand, which the nse
of tools and mechanical appliances
furnishes, is of a great and real value.
beyond the good resulting from the
occupation of leisure time. Having
nothing to do is as great a snare to
the young as it is 10 the full grown;
and 10 greater benefits can he con-
ferred on youths than to teach them
to convert time now wasted, and Of
ten worse than wasted, into pleasant
means of recreation and mental i'm
provement.
We say, therefore, TO all parents:
Provide your boys with mechanical
apparatus and tools. There is no
greater pleasure to most boys than
the handling of a tool; and many
great men and ingenious inventors
look back with gratitude and delight
10 the day when they were first al
lowed to use the lathe, the saw, and
the plane.
The boy whose time and mind are
now occupied with mar bles and kites,
may he q Watt, a Morse. or a Besse-
mer in embryo; and it is certainly an
easy matter to turn his thoughts and
musings into a channel which shall
give full scope to their faculties.
And to most boys the use of mechan-
icsl tools is the most fascinating of
all occupations.
As logic and mathematics have a
valne beyond accuracy in argument
and the correct solution of problems,
in that they teach men the habit of
using their rejecting powers sys-
tematically, so carpentry, turning.
and other arts are of high Importance.
These occupations teach boys to
think, to proceed from initial causes
to results, and not only to understand
the nature and duty of the mechan-
ical powers, but to observe their eff
fects, and to acquire knowledge by
actual experiment, which is the best
way of learning anything All the
theories culled out of books leave
an impress on the mind and memory,
which is slight compared to that OF
the practical experience of the true
mechanic. "
Our advice is, to all who have the
great responsibility of the charge of
boys: Give them a lathe, or a set OF
carpenters or even blacksmith's
tools. Give their minds a turn to
wards the solid and useful side of
life. You will soon see The result in
increased activity of their thinking
capabilities, and the direction et
their ideas towards practical results;
and, still more obviously, in the avoid,
ance of idle mischief and nonsense
to omit all reference to absolute
~wickedness and moral degradation J. |
which are, TO too great IN extent,
the pastime of the generation which
is to succeed us