The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1880-11-26
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The BOY OF the Period.
The difficulty Of obtaining frst-class jour
nal for the rising generation and even for
older minds, is owing to the fact that the field
is occupied -erowded innumerable trashy
periodicals that are only fit for wrapping paper.
The mind OF youth wants something solid
soma substantial foundation to grow upon-and
nothing is more suited for this purpose than to
put into the hands of the young folks moral
journal filed with history and adventures and
even fiction which is, of course, written within
the bounds of reason. could mention only
few of those kind of papers, and another rea-
son Of thair scarcity is that they are not as
ably supported ss should be. The thrilling,
bloodthirsty novelties that are in possession of
all juveniles who are blessed with indulSent
parents is the reason so few seldom make men
of themselves. Give them something chaste
and watch the change. A person would te
astonished at the sudden transformation, and
their boys would soon forget the trashy serials
of their past perusals, and grow up an honor
to themselves.
On the other hand, continue to permit this
disastrous enemy of mind ana time to grow up
with them, and tramp will be the result,
or am very much mistaken.
Youth universally imbibes the spirit of its
reading, as does the moderate drinker to the
drunkard. Parents, keep your sons well stocked
with novels and flash story papers rear them
up among them. and you will have thieves and
assassins for your family. They naturally in
cline to the dictaton of their reading and con-
ceive high notions of adventure and heroic
danger. THUS they grow to & crooked man, as
does sapling thus shaped into q crooked tree.
Boys, that is, some of them, believe every
word they read showing the necessity of read
ing something worth believing. They grow to
! lDvN. A,@I Sc 1,..
hood-indced, how many of Us have heard of
our companions running away from home, as if
it was an enemy to be stunned. They seek the
harder struggles Of this hard life, perhaps never
! to return again to home and friends. They
dream of life on the silyery sea, Of foaming
pillows and curling waves they see it i'll the
light OF the silver moon, when the shadows Of
gallant barque are rising and falling upon the
waters. OF orange groves and dusky maids
they dream. They long to explore the tropical
isles Of the ocean, amid the waving palms, and
feast on the productions of a warmer cline.
They dream OF undisturbed seclusion, Of sum-
mer skies and sunshine, where trouble il never
known, of Jolly Jack tnrS and Captains who
grant their every wish. / have known boys to
pass long day-dreams IN melancholy meditation
on,heroic deeds and action, wildly portrayed in
the imagination-an essence of strange lands
and foreign ports, tame prairies and wild Indi-
ans, pirates cannibals, etc. Taking general
view, this is only natural. But before the SOW
ing of wild oats every one should learn trade,
so as to bear disappointment with lighter
heart when they grow older toward maturity,
and the reapng of the harvest will not be so
painful. Then is when the disappointments
come in increasing numbers, and 1t shows the
absolute necessity of professlon-~aud that
profession should be followed to its fullest ex-
tent. Then it il when the realities Of life open
to their hearts, and they open their eyes to the
full consciousness that all the world is q stage
on which we all are actors. Their better nature
prompts them with the cue. and they take up
the role where their fathers dropped it when
they made their final exit. Then they view the
ocean in its rougher terrOr5. They see ship
wrecked mariners furnishing upon their coral
isles. Among their orange groves and palms
the wild BEASTS groWl and roar, and serpents
glide about. Their dusky maids are changed
to canni ais, thirsting for their blood. sharp
ening their teeth on the bones of their latest
victims. They see no gallant ship Drawing the
rushing pillows, but they see o tor1n-driven
wreck, manned by drunken crew. cursing the
God who made them, driving upon the reefs
and breakers that rise in the troubled waters Of
the stream of time. Then their visions of Vest
ern prairies and hunters camps grow dim from
over thought, judging rightly that It's best to
roast ones feet around his own home-circle
than at the stake of the savages and let their
scalping knife of the wild red man.
Stay on the farm, boys; your row may be
hard to hoe at the beginning. but toward its
termination you will find the weeds few and far
between. Never run away from a comfortable
home to find employment in the cities. Your
disappointment will come too late. If the hun
dreds Of boys, and even men, would go to the
country instead of crowding into oyer-crowded
situations, this world would be less miserable,
ard country homes would be spared of the
grief that daily throws her shadows around It's
occupants.
Boys are apt to conceive high notions of a
better life away from home, and they take upon
their shoulders the responsibility of supporting
themselves in the pleasures and temptations
that allure them away. They go to the cities
and to the seas for nothing else than to seek
adventures and make heroes of themselves.
Heroes are not made thus they are made at
home But these inGinationg, at least some of
them, are brought about by frequentlng bar
rooms and saloons, playing cards, keeping late
hours and bad company, and listening with
awe and admiration to the stories there related.
choice of companions should by all meang be
chosen, and those of the very best Don't Wis
it the saloons, for if a respectable and intimate
friend should see you thus, contagious tint of
decentralization would cling to you through
life, even though the innocent game of check
ers be the pastimc.
Remember thy Creator in the days OF thy
youth" guard all your actions, govern your
self, and, what is most important, govern your
temper. Select choice reading from the popular
poets and authors of the day, keep the best of
company or none end stick to your profession
and your reward will be great.
/ don't wish it to be thought that / am
preaching, nor do I wish my young readers to
.'skip,' for / have seen too many wild, DISH
pated young men to dwell lightly upon the sub
ject or to preach to unwilling listeners, but
,nly wish TO impart some solid advice, of which
hope few thoughts will be taken to check
the beginning of an otherwise wild career.
make no objection to dancing, or moderate
frtng or very M derate smoking, but, for the
love Of yourselves, don't chen tobacco, and for
the love Of your parents, Look not upon the
wine when it is red within the cup" or any
other coior, for it leads to dissipation and sin
MANY man who commenced with a glass of
spirits, relying upon his strength of mind and
iImness of purpose, has passed around the
whole circle of drunkenness. and laid down III
dishonored grave.
/ would say to the boys, Leave all such vices
alone look to something higher; prove your
selves proof against temptation. Men were
made for nobler purpose than to fl drunk
ards grave give Yourself noble character
mingle honesty and virtue in all your wander
ings, and success awaits you. Listen to an
aged man, VINO IeelS a deep interest," IN your
welfare, and well remembers when he was
young, and can appreciate the increasing dan
gers 10 which you are exposed, as our country
becomes more 6ensey populated.
If the tree put forth 10 blossoms in the
spring, we gather no fruit in autumn. Ii the
spring-time of your lives passes without i'm
provement if the vain alur, ments and trIfling
amusements of tEis deceitfal ana deceiung
world engross your minds to the seclllsion Of
salutary improvement, the darkness Of igno-
rance viii remain stamped upon your mental
powers, and will most likely push you into the
murky waters of shame and disgrace.
Let these reflections raise you above the til
fies that only amuse without beneftting you
learn to be men and women while you are boys
and girls. CHAs. II. LOGAN.
ST.. HELENA, Cal.
Trials and Differences.
In all the different stages Of life we find On
the great battlefield serious obstacles that
must be encountered and overcome II re-
quires very great amount of wisdom and pa
thence to be able to contend With these and dis
pose Of them in manner that shall be both
profitable and beneficial to ourselves and man