The free citizen. (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1874-1876, 1875-04-17
How to Keep the Children Pure

IS How to Keep the Children Pure
Will you not use your influence in
trying to deter large boys from contami-
mating the minds of small boys /?
Things which should be told III whole.
some manner and as solemn truths are
distorted into vile shapes, and perma-
nent injury is done to children's minds.
Would it not be better for the body to
ihs poisoned than the mind, that parents
might see the harm done, and thereby
be, uabled to use cures and antidotes :?
But am sorry to say that think the
Trouble lies deeper than with the big
lloys. I have been looking around, and
nm quite sure that it does. A jury
might acquit them with the verdict,
more sinned against than SHINING. It
is the men that I am coming at, for just
50 long as they meet in groceries, on
Street corners, and in shops, telling
stories unfit for the ears of their moth
ers, sisters, wives and daughters, just
so long big boys will listen and think it
cunning to emulate the filthy example.
LIS it not terrible thing to look into a
young mans face and think of the i'm
pnrities his mind must be loaded with
unless he has strength to cast off
the unclean thing and be :. nobleman ?"
No subject more vital in it's bearing
op the morals of the young could have
place in this column, says the New York
Tribune, in reply to the above letter.
There are parents who recognize among
the duties they owe their children that
of instructing them with respect to The
origin of life. This is left shrouded in
impenetrable mystery, and all manner
oTlies are told in reply to the questions
which at very early age children will
ask. The mother leaves tllis matter for
her daughter to be told about by any
GLANCE schoolmate, who, with the few
gains of truth she may communicate,
isfmore than likely to SOW tares that
nBer can be weeded out. The inno-
ceht hearted boy learns from his rough
companions what his own father or
Ii5ther should have told him with per-
fss ssimplicity and inge uousness, and
isaFns greatdeal that they would never
hjs;}st mad hina to know. Truth is. sacred.
lttIETh is pure aud never corrupts any
g, - tha .ila: admixture OF false.
hood viii Il it That oontaminates. 1ryerSyys Y
faSt in human physiology can be so
communicated to pure mind that its
delicacy shall not be in the least Of
fehded. The time to make these facts
known is VIII the desire to inquire
into them manifests itself. and the best
tehcher is the parent. AS between hus-
band and wife, so between parent and
child there is no place for shame.
Where virtue reigns shame cannot
come.
A child thus taken into sacred init.
macy with its parent will instinctively
revolt from whatever is vulgar and base
and obscene. At every period in the
d !velopment of the young life the
parent should be before everybody else
in preparing and fortifying his son or
daughter against the dangers which lie
in his or her path. There is nothing
that 30 strongly binds child to virtue
and honor and chastity, as perfect and
ullrestrained intimacy between it and
tho father and mother. We arc careful
about the sewage of our houses, about
ventitating them, and see to it with
diligence that every nook and corner is
kept neat and sweet. Let as carry the
same thing into character and open al
the doors and windows of the soul by
total frankness and transparent sim
plicity, Chat tho pure air and sunshine
OF heaven may have access to them
and keep them pure,
One word more. If home is made SO
attractive that boys and men prefer it
to the corner groceries, m ounce of lre-
vention will be found better than many
pounds of cure.