Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1878-08-24

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intretace boys 10 the eaap.ny 81 pir.tes,
roSh-f.. nuEa~rers. gaablefs. tranps,
ssd v&S-Aonts Il every secrlption
They maze them familiar alta the dsalec,
Of sooanirelisn- They inocealais them
with the so0usdrel's seniIments, and
make u seem the mast natural tnings 10
life to p.ss ones days in IN atmosphere
impregnzte With tobacco and grag. in
company with men who talk theives'
slang. and win their fortunes by fraud
anu violence.
There Is some Sigh, difference in the
pretensions u these publications; scarce
ly any in the attractions which are
counted on To- secure rea iers and buyers.
In one at least are villianons advertise
ments. Some couspicuously declare
they purpose to admit no such advertise
ment. for ''obyious reasons" Sometimes
the notice looks like n "blind" for the
unsophisticsted, and u wink to the init.
at.d. In any case such notices show the
danger that turks very near such means
OF communicating with bOys, and shows
that the danger has been realized. Ger
tainly no respectable paper or magazine
intended for the young is called upon to
indicate in any way the existence of such
forbidden wares.
While we are discussing this disagree
able matter, we can do no less than warn
all parents that there is widespread
conspiracy, having for its object the
making OF gain, by selling vicious litera-
ture, ETC., to the children of those who
have money to spare, and that the means
are furnished to the plotters by unscru.
pulous agents who get into communica-
tons especially with amateur printers
and editors. Recent revelations in re-
spectacle schools show how thoroughly
this devilish work may be doue under
the very eyes of parents and teachers.
But to return to the literature in Ques-
ton. Nothing can make it desirable that
our children shall become familiar with
even imaginary associations with the
worst elements in society. Children like
to believe that what they read 10 true;
and whatever they read ought to be true
to everything which is noble and beauti.
full in life. Fiction will not hurt them,
if only it be clean, natural and strong.
But what possible good can come to boys
from constant association with 1.-THE Boy
Gladiator" "Guerills joe" 1.-THE Sea
Fiends of the Moluccas," "The Crazy
Detective" "Billy the Boxer" and host
of men and women who drink, fight,
steal and gamble as regularly as an hon
est man goes to his daily workf In the
stories we have read, nobody seems to be
engaged in any honest work, or to have
any idea of what it is to be industrious,
honest, or frugal. Good citizenship is
something as far beyond these young saw.
ages, who cut, slash, shoot and run for
luck in all manner of dangerous advent
ures, as it is beyond the natives of some
newly discoved jungle in the heart of
Africa.
Prof. Sumner gives many illustrations,
drawn from the literature in question, to
show the utter worthlessness, if not vi
ciousness, Of the matterthus supplied in
large abundance to boys who have pock-
et-money. We will add two specimens
from our limited collection: "Stumpy
out Of Luck" is hungry and discouraged.
He soliloquizes over his hard fortunes,
gets up street fight between two boys,
which he pronounccs "a pretty good lit
tie racket" while he steals tomato or
two and an onion; then, needing cigar
to finish his hasty meal, he plays trick
ON Chinaman, and plumbers his stand
to his hearts content.
All this is presented without word to
indicate that it is not "smart" and praise
worthy, and the natural amusement OF
the youth. Boys may read such stuff
with contempt if they have been we'll
trained; but now and then one will be
fascinated by the free manners, the life
of apparent ease, the excitement of dan
ger aud adventure, and, in conseq uence,
acquire a disgust for common drudgeries,
which will unfit him for life and it's hon
est work. Parents cannot do their duty
for their boys unless they supply them
with reading which will supply the de-
sire which every wide-awake boy feels
for something which will stir his blood
and excite his imagination. Give him
travel, adventure, history, romance Of the