Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1876-08-23
The AxeHnxe Box.

own Ia feeling OF profound sympathy
Win snd respect for the average boy. a
rarely fgures In Sunday-school books-never
10 dime novels is the hero OF no hsiroraStth
escapes CT romantic adventures, and Is not
nseiy 10 create any demand for photographs
o.. ,is'sts ~ no,ne, OF minute biography OF
The average boy Is bent on having a goot
TINE without regard n being sensational or
melodrsmsUc. II he l. repToved by MS ma
rents ne does not Immediately coucoct some
plsn TOT running away, rehearse the nroli-
gsi son, or nre on a pistol 10 terrify those
VINO nave dared 10 cal him 20 a>colnt He
has no fancy for sleeping out OF doors. unser
FENCES, and IN carts, last for the fun of the
thing and although he has a taste for the
sea aud Is fond or bosts he prefers 10 set SAL
IN a legitimate way, thai ne may never have
10 regret his youthful folly.
The average boy escapes a great deal of
unwholesome nattery and vicious encour-
agement, and early learns 10 know the ching
of the true metal. lie is not unreasonable ~
his desires, and so has a greater capacity for
enjoy ment, and is not OldSe before he Is out of
his teens. he has good sense enough To see
that every thing has boundaries, that he can
not expect TO occupy larger estate than he
has inherited or purchased; and so learns 10
respect both law and liberty. He has boyisn
tricks, OF course, and is full OF mischief, but
he avoids ways that are dark, and is care
ful Of the Commandments.
The average boy looks at q prison with
feelin. OF noTror. aud while he has a curiOs-
ity 10 enter It's doors ne has no disposition to
become familiar with the steps of crime. he
grows. Out BiOWs ana
csl'y, preferliug TO be n stately OAK rather
than q sprawiing deformity, IL there Is any
preference Rbout IT. II isn't his nature % be
erralic, ard he never works against nature.
The Otter boys plan TO go 60 tue Canten-
rial, collect money in some mysterious way,
srd start of on foot with ell the energy aud
enthusiasm OF ''youog Crusaders" With
out q sign he sees them depart, fully assured
that he will be able TO do the Centepnial ia
more respectable manner by going with
father, mother, or friends who look AFTER his
interests because he Il modest abDut look
ing after them himself, and because they
sre willing and 81 xious 90 crafty the nstu-
raj desires OF a boy who seldom grunbles,
and is never eXacting.
The average boy is unconsciously fitting
himself for an important place In society.
The forces that keep him from going up like
rocket, or flying Of at a tangent are train
Ing him TO habits OF steadfastness aud con-
sistency, and Strengthening the balance
wheel OF mental and moral activity. Com
mopplsce people are not necessarily dull
and stupid; and the average boy is more
likely TO turn out solid man than is the
harum-scarum fellow who early becomes IA
miliar with vice, and being always with
out fear" is never without reproach."
II is cruel TO slight and snub the average
boy who may be slow to learn but has a
fable OF the hare snd the tortoise. aud keen
your eye on the boy who, II he fail TO aston
iSh the world with any unusual display OF
hrilliancy, viii very likely give more COM
fort TO his friends, and establish q reputa-
ton for himself that will be more substsn-
tial than that OF many q rival Josephine
Pollard