The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1877-07-14
News from Our Friends.
NATCHITOCHES,
LOST CORNER, Natchitoches, La,
June 9th, 1877. !


Quietly curled up in my corner with
my head between my paws, apparent
~ asleep, much that goes on in the
world comes to my ears, and although
our owners regard domestic animals
as senseless objects, yet | assure you
that the superior race, so called, are
often severely criticized by those
creatures before whom no disguise is
thought needed. If you will bear
with me, | would like to purr little
concerning that class of human be.
ings that my own race receive small
favor from, yet | bear them no NAL
ice, bnt would like to help them for
ward in their career. 1t was with
much qualification that | learned
through your columns, the prohlb'-
ton of minors drinking in bar rooms,
saloons. &c. Your unwcaried efforts
having procured this result, do not
let the GOOD work stop here. Urge
the community to unite in winning
these yonths to find pleasures in
higher and nobler pursuits. ito not
believe that boys are naturally VICIOUS,
dpsnitc the old time doctrine of total
denrayitv. aver that the majority
who 90 to places of dissipation, Il" so
from lack of something better to DO,
and from the pcrnicious example Of
Older men, These embryo sovereigns
think it manly to swallow alcoholic
poison, and to strang|e themselves
with the acrid fumes of tobacco. The
nature of youth Graves variety,
amusement, change, and must have
it at any price ; they seek it as blind
" as the Cuttlefish its prey in the
ocean, waving its deadly tentacles in
all directions closing upon all ii
touches, and conveying to its ever
hungry mouth. How wise then in
the elders of the people, the good
mothers and fathers, the loving Sis
tiers, to provide such innocent pleas
ures as shall make home the "dearest
spot on earth"
The narrow interests OF small towns
and country neishborhoods are soor
exhausted, the dreary monotony Gre
ates a tiger. like appetite for sonic eS
citemeut to break the stagnatlon, the
victim insensibly yields to the first
attraction that offers, often of a ma
ture that makes the after life vid
concis. One potent cause of boy'
going to the bad is, uncongen'a
homes! Give an average boy a goo,
home, not merely place to eat an'
sleep, and change clothes in, but
place where his society is liked, his
tastes appreciated, his affections
drawn out, where he has the privilege
of inviting "the other fellows" ref
uge in time of trouble, a spot where
he may shout and sing if merry, OF
sigh if he be sad, aud my word for it
as cat of experience, he will love
his home better than any where else
and make a good man, perhaps
great one. How many unhappy
wretches, think you, have had their
swift descent to Avernus, arrested il
time to turn back on the rerilons way
by the remembrance ola happy home
"a fathers pride, mothers love
BOYS should b@trained to love thci
own sisters better than ether boy
sisters, and gills should be very KIM
and sympathetic to their brothers
By encouraging tie tender shoots o
affection to twine around the house
' hold, much 0fthe mawkish sentlmen
of the age, countcrfeiting the CRANE
passion of love, would be avoided
Severity and harshncss drive many
poor child headlong to ruin.
"0ye hard parents, who look npo
your offspring as mere property, t.
be brought up for your pleasure o
pride-never remembering that eac
child may have lived, and assured
will live through eternity, an indie
pendant, self existing being that tn
Bestower of these young spirits give
them not but lend-"Take this chill
and nurse it for me'-tlink what
fearful thing it is to have upon You
heads the destruction of huma
soul y Why cannot your citizens sc
up something that would occupy an
amuse the boys7 A gymnasium
skating rink, rifle club, swimmin
school, chess club, thespian society
anything to keep the evil spirit wait
ing upon an idle brain afar off. He,
, cn1es plying the distaff by the side {
Omphole is not very enobling spec
tacle, Int it is harmless, and inhnitc'
better than Bacillus stupid with wine
or sinking in the slough of Lais an
Phryne. How know ye not tina
+ somo "vil1age Hamdeu," or "muto il
5 glorious Milton, may be flying his xii
or playing marbles among the lit
lads of to day? Take good care {
1 the "sccd corn" and glorious ha
!. vest will reward. The true rcgenc
ration Of men aud morals must com
from rearing better children. Me
3 spend hugo sums, give nncounte
time to improvement of live STOCK
why not bestow modicum on Il
Improvement of the human race?
have trespassed long enough upc
your Kindness, although the subje'
6 ia 81 fruitful thatstime and SDace WOul