Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1875-02-27
OLYMPIA. SATURDAY MORNING, PED. 81, 1875
WHAT WILL BECOME OF OUR YOUTH ?

WHAT WILL BECOME OF OUR YOUTH ?
The hayward disposition manifested
by the youth of late years is becoming
the occasion of serious alarm. The
precocious smartness which once served
to fatter and amuse the indulgent par
ent, has developed into habits which
leave an indelible impression upon the
life and character. 1t cannot be de-
MED that Young America which was
tolerated on the plea of patriotism, has
degenerated into the modern hoodlum,
and is the personifcation of mischief
and rowdyism.
The records Of the Portland police
court show that this spirit is blighting
the community, and that it is not I'M
common for Juvenile thieves to infest
the prison cells. Only fortnight ago
the neck of youthful murderer was
saved from the halter by the interposi-
ton of executive pardon. The Van
couver Register, of last week, alludes
to an instance of cruelty which appals
with horror. A couple of hoodlums
saturated the long hair of superanu-
ated mule which had been turned out
to die with coal oil, and then set it on
FIRE and danced with fendish glee
while the poor animal suffered the ex-
crutiating torture. &c.,,
While the youth of this place have
not developed quite SO much of fiend
incarnate as this, they are represented
by several candidates for notoriety, if a
change does not result before they are
entirely lost to self-respect. When
young men attend places of public
worship to disturb the exercises, or fire.
quent beer halls or other places of re-
sort in beastly state of intoxication, it
is time for people to inquire " Whittier
are we drifting?'
The ordinary efforts made for reform
are entirely inadequate. The youth are
led to believe that, as objects of tender
solicitude, the people must beg and en-
treat them to be "good boys" without
inAicting any of the penalties which
their hayward transgressions richly
merit. Their self-esteem is increased
by the sensation they create. They
imagine themselves heroes, and become
impressed with the idea that the silken
bonds of affection are but drawn closer
about them by their transgressions. In
the course of time they believe them
selves to be the objects Of public con-
Germ. They perceive that the temper
ate and exemplary youth plods his way
onward without attracting special at
tention, while he becomes the subject of
kind wishes and prayers of all with
whom he is thrown into contact. The
inconsiderate use of the expression,
Fine fellow; pity he drinks!' has had
had more effect in confirming habits OF
dissipation than all the allurements of
the "gilded halls of Bacchus."
The question is, What shall be done?
The answer, Make dissipation and row.
dyism moral crime. Use strong rem
edies in allopathic doses. Let it be
known that the indulgence of such Vi
cious habits will not be condoned or
tolerated because the parties happen to
be respectfully connected. Let the
youth understand that reputation must
be OF their own making, that success
depends quite as much upon Sobriety,
as any of the other cardinal virtues,
surround them with proper home infu-
ences. and this growing evil will disap-
pear as readily mists before the noon
day sun. ~