The Manitowoc tribune. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1866-1878, 1874-01-27
Where Shall our Children Spend Their
Evenings:


Evenings:
1t is not Of the manageable portion
of society we wish to speak. We allud(
to those half way between childhood anc
youth, a great increasing host; too biz
to be put to bed at shutdown, full of ami
NAL spirits, warm with social Instincts
longing to entertain and be entertained
interested in a thousand things that are
foolishness In the eyes of maturity-pic'
lures, games. romps-it is to these we
would call attention, for these we put in
plea when we ask: Where shall oul
young folks spend their evenings?
"Not in my parlor, | assure you" ex-
claimed Mrs Fusabout. L M not going
to have my young folks taking crowd
in there to soil, detace and destroy-not
L. indeed And as to having them where
[ am, I could not stand that no way
they would drive me crazy in week with
their endless clatter.
Hundreds of notable house keepers
brandish their dust pans before that
sacred realm, 'the parlor," at the veriest
hint of an invasion, and echo Mrs. Fus-
about's cry.
mother, can't We 60 into the parlor?"
We were two girls shivering in the
damp air of an evening in September
two girls just budding into womaphood,
that critical period when both soul and
body need the tenderest care and vigi.
lance. The woman addressed had come
from the warm and well-Hghted church
close by, and was ready to sleep Oh the
sermon. Not so with her daug hters.
That young brain was alive with busy
fancies; no end of pleasant condolences
were busy at her tongues tip to be trans
ferred to the sympathizing heart beside
her; her pulse throbbed high with youth
and hope; she bad no desire to shorten
her days by single hour. And what
was her answer?
Gin the parlor, indeed / think not
IF it isn't good enough for you out here
on the steps, you can come in and go to
bed"
Those poor young things had shivered
there an entire evening but wha: did it
matter? Perchance many an after pain
and ache. which should have by right
have recoiled upon the parent, reached
the tender frame of her woman child
So the precious parlor remained undese-
Grated, what did it matter? 1t mattered
much. 0, wives and mothers, so quick
to wipe away the least suspicion of
cloud on your window panes, so iEdiffer-
ent to the cIouied eyes of your offspring;
so indefatigable in keeping stains from
carpet or curtains, 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, scrub
bling brush, and broom. and entirely
upset by the patter of childish feet, a
game of romps, whistle, drum, or crying
doll who with washing, ironing, baking,
carpet-rags, canning and all the various
duties of notable housewife, can ''lit-
ter up room from daylight until bed
time, ard take genuine satisfaction in it,
too, yet cannot endure stray hat or
apron. or a few scattered toys.
We say such things matter much, since
every species oe injustice, however small
or trivial, shielded on whatever pretense,
will some day most assuredy ,recoil upon
the perpetrators thereof
Il have never known any one who al
lowed their boys to occupy the parlor of
an evening, or bring company into the
house at al" Such is the testimony Of
a lady who for several years bas been a
teacher in one of our public schools; and
how many witnesses could set their seal
thereto.
Walk out any time before 10 in pleas
ant evening, almost anywhere In your
large cities, and you will see dozens OF
young girls, mere children, of the mos
respectable parentage, stroiiing around
the streets or sitting on the steps, for the
purpose of enjoying those social priv
leges denied them in their homes These
either go to school or to work during tie
day Then comes the long evening
Youth very naturally desires recreation
and the c0mpsuionship of their own age.
If home is got really home, but only a
place where they are allowed to eat.
drink and sleep, what is left them but to
take to the streets, fraternizing with
Others equally as unfortunate as them
selves.
Most people think boys take naturally
to the street; that is because they are
not allowed to be boys In the house.