Buchanan County bulletin. [volume] (Independence, Iowa) 1869-1891, 1877-02-09
''Our Boys"

The following article from the
Council Bluffs Nonpareii, under the
above title is as applicable here as
elsewhere, and should be read by ey-
cry parent:
"Well-to do, orderly and pious
parents frequently become alarmed
by the bad conduct of their half
grown boys. Boys, who have be-
fore them most correct examples;
whose sisters are nice girls, and
whose parents are most moral and
respectable seem all Of a sudden,
when they reach the age of fourteen
or sixteen, to become more loateriSh
and unmanagebIe. Mothers, whose
fondness has blinded them to grow
ing defects are most rudeiy awaken
ed by some gross misconduct to the
sad acknowledgment that there is
something wrong. But bad habits
and associations are not formed at
once. Rudeness of speech; swearing,
vulgarity, boisterous conduct and
general dlsrespect of elders, are not
the growth of a day, but the outcrop-
pings ct long neglected training.
Let us examine, therefore, Il few of
the causes of this great and growing
evil. Much has been written Of late
concerning 'woman's rights and the
real or tancied wrongs Of the female
sex. Let us vary the theme by an
earnest plea for the rights of boys,
whose training is SO uniformly neg
lected.
Take the average American fami-
~, with an income ranging from
500 to $1,000 per year, and we will
find that the girls are neatly dressed;
that they have at least two complete
suits throughout; that they are
taught music-a majority having
either piano or melodeon; that
they are permitted to attend school
until seventeen or eighteen years OF
age; that from fourteen years up
ward, if not sooner. they are expect
ed in the parlor; are treated with
the consideration due to grown peo-
pie, and are trained to the discharge
of social duties.
Take Il boy belonging to the same
family, between the age of ten and
sixteen, and we shall find that he
has but one decent suit of clothing,
if he has that; that he is baretooted
in summer; and often uncombed, UNI
washed, and ragged. He is not ex-
pected in the parlor when there is
company; he is seldom taught i'll
strumental or even vocal music; he
is considered Il nuisance, particularly
bv the older sister; his restlessness
at home disturbs the repose of the
family, and he is packed off to school,
and trSm thence thrust into the
street.-The house being So much
quieter when the boys are off. 1t is
not merely in day time, but at night
also, when he is on the street. He
goes to amusements alone; gets in Il
corner with twenty other boys, and
whistles, stamps and blackguards
with the rest. He learns TO smoke,
chew and drink. He has no fine
cloths, and therefore all days are
alike to him; or, if he is watched
pretty closely on Sunday, he has the
most unbounded liberty during the
week, and as long as he gives no
trouble to the women folks the
father beng busy at his work, 'all Is
WE'LL
But all is not WELL The sister
hears an obscene word, and is shock
ed; the mother hears a curse, and
can hardly believe her ears; the faith
er is told that his boy has been IN
in some malicious mischief, and he
is incredulous. Now as partial
remedy-for if we were to cover the
entire field we would have to write
book-we make the following sug
gestion: