The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1874-02-06
Cur Boys

10 recent article we made some sug-
gestions in regard to the aims of our
Young men, which have bee so heartily
commended by some Of our oldest and
est eitiz ems, that we feel encouraged
now to devote a small space to hints in
regard to that portion Of society known
as Young America" and sometimes
not inaPtiy termed the frying size
of the rising generation. 1t is evident
to the most casual observer that the gen.
eral conduct and manner of life of our
small boys stands sadly in need of re-
formation. And in this particular we
need not go abroad for fit subjects for
our kind Offices For while we are free
to admit that we have many good boys
In our midst-some perhaps, that might
be presented as model speeimens-we
cannot avoid the conviction that the
general tendency of our youths is to evil
and that continually. The inclination
of our smaller boys to initiate those of
larger growth is of course not 70 be dis
couraged when the examples set are
worthy of imitation, but the reverse of
this is so often true that this very incii~
nation Is one of the most formidable
difficulties with which parents have to
contend in the training OF small boys.
The seemingly inherent desire to learn
to roll as sweet morsel under the
tongue moderate quid Of Vir>
GINA fine cut" or to end up in
graceful curls the burnt incense of a
" three for quarter" ought to be re-
strained in the Juvenile portion of our
body polite. 1t may be true that these
practices, when acquired, may not, per
sc, do any great harm, bat their tenden-
cy is too often to the cultivation of un~
natural aFpctites, and in an effort to
satisfy these, persons of peculiar tenn
peraments are too often drawn into
habits, which are regarded as being a
great deal verse. And while we shall
avoid here anything like a disquisitiOn
on the subject of intemperance, in the
usual acceptation of that term, we are
constrained to impress upon the minds of
parents that they cannot watch too close
ly, nor guide too carefully the early pro-
peBsities of their sons 1t is indeed true
that this principle has been preached for
ages and was no new subject even in the
days of Solo mon, but time has not de-
traeted from its utility, and We need to
be frequently reminded of it. The
habit OF many of our small boys OF
spending the early hours of the night
upOn the streets cannot but be deleterious
to good morals, to say nothing of its tens
dency to lessen that love of home and
mother which of itself excites some of
the loftiest sentiments of the human
heart. There is, as it were, something
in the night air noxious to the well be-
ing Of boys moral nature. Too often
have parents been led to deplore the
results of these nocturnal wander
ings and pernisious privileges, and still
the advantages of observation, and it may
DC the liSht Oh sau experience some"
times fails to make them more careful of
the future.
Finally what can we say of that most
detestable practice, especially in small
boys, of profane sweariug2 five could
excite sense of shame in only one boy
and cause him to reform in this particu-
lar, We should consider that even more
time and greater space than We purpose
to devote to it here were well spent.
a. 1t chiIls my blood to hear the blessd Supreme
RUdsY applied to such trihing themes.
maintain our d gnitY-vulgarity despise-
To swear is neither brave, petite nor wise -