Daily globe. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1878-1884, 1880-11-28
LOOK AFTER TIE BOYS.

the ms jority, who 60 to enjoy play.
LOOK AFTER THE BOYS.
Train up a child in the way he should go;
and when be is old he will not depart from it.
PROVERBS XXII:6.
A large majority Of the boys of the present
day nre receiving their moral training in
the streets. The children of professedly
Christian people are learning at the same
profession whatever, and are fast developing
the slang, the profanity and obscenity that
characterize the conversation of the street
gamin. No person of refined sensibilities
can pass along the street at any hour Of the
day and not be shocked by the unseemly con.
duct of the boys who are met in every square,
and by their blssphemous conversation and
their utter disregard of common decency.
Many of these boys are children of respect
able Christian parents, who would be deeply
grieved if they could see their sons as others
see them.
The education of the street is not such an
education as should be regarded sufficient
for those who are in the future to be the
men who will mould public opinion, occupy
positions and mayhap exercise controlling
iufuenee in governmental affairs. In ma-
jority of instances the boys brought up
andor such conditions amount to but little
in the race of life. They become the asso-
ciates of the lowest classes, oftentimes
drunkards, in many cases loafers of the
worst description. They become unfit as
socates for people of refinement, and seek
congenial society among the hoodlums Of
the town, aud eventually become hoodlums
themselves.
1t is to be feared that Christian parents do
not pay sufficient heed to The associations
Into which their children may be thrown up
On the streets. Charley may be good boy,
and therefore his father or his mother allows
him to go es he peases, coasting or skating,
playing ball or marbles, kite-hying or roll
ing hoop. They never think that while fol
lowing these amusements, harmless in them
g .lves, they almost invariably get into the
company of boys with the propensities of the
gamin largely developed, and that, perhaps
unconsciously, they accumulate vocabulary
o. slang or of quasi profanity that will cling
to them for years afterwards. Boys have
the instinct of human nature largely devel-
ooed, and conceal their new accomplish
m snts from their parents for months or
years. and though they may behave them
selves creditably in the home circle they have
large fund OF explosives and slang for street
use.
Far too little care is bestowed upon our
boys, and the family discipline seems to be
relaxing year by year. The boys of to-day
ara far more unruly, intractabe ct than
they were twenty years ago. They
mature before their time, swear,
smoke, and commit all the
improprietiessof life with the utmost sang
froid. They seem to think it manly to ac-
cumulate as many of the vices of mankind
as possible before they have gotten half way
through their tsens. If they are remonstrat-
ed with they impudentIy insult the person
who calls attention to the Improperly of
their conduct, and endeavor to exceed even
their former outrageous conduct.
Parents are primarily responsible for the
moral degeneracy of the uprising generation.
The mother finds it too much trouble to
look after her boys, and allows them to go
and come as they please. The father, if
his attention Ia called to some breach of de-
oorum on the part of his Son, retorts by ex-
claiming that "boys will be boys" and seems
to take pride in the fact that his boy is as
unruly customer as can be generally
found. he does not stop TO consider that
to become confirmed in the man, and that q
wild boy seldom makes a steady and reli-
able man. There is difficulty In the train
ing of the youth of the country that may
prove disastrous to our social fabric in the
near future 1t does not involve much
trouble for parents to select the companions
OF their children. This cannot be done too
jealousy or carefully. It should be remem-
bsred that as the twig is bsnt the trees in
clined. A careful training of the young of
hs rising generation will result in the up
building of race of moral and Intellectual
giants for the future; neglect of these pre-
cautlons will result in race OF pigmies.
Christian people especially should pay more
heed to the training of their children. girls
as we'll as bows. The seeds of dissoluteness
sown in the youthful mind at tender age
| may take root and bear bitter fruit in lat. r
life. The present of religion and of govern
ment rests with the mature generations of
to- day; the future will rest with those who
are now receiving their first knowledge of
life. Let the children of to-day be trained
IF both church and State will be- secure.