The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1883-01-11
TRUE MAN4INESS.

TRUE MANLINESS.
All my boy readers expect to be men
some day. You are ike the little boy
who was pushed aside by one of those
gruff men who don't care much for boys
or anybody else. He said, as he pushed
the little fellow out OF his way: 81
wonder of what good you are anyhow?'
The boy looked up and said: ST., they
make men out of such fellows rs me. "
So it lies in the power of every boy, if
he lives, to make a man out OF himself
to ''show himself a man." In fact,
boys try to do this very thing. They
want TO be thought manly, and some
times they feel pretty big Why, the
little boy of eight summers, in his first
pair of red-tOp boots, feels almost rs big
as his father. Boys try to show them
selves to be men long before they are
out of their teens. But many have
a very mistaken idea of true manliness.
Some think it consists in physical
strength, enabling one to whip every
other boy that dares to say word to
them; that it is a sign of manliness to
fly into passion at the least provoca-
cation, and quarrel or pick a fight.
Some boys have not courage enough to
be called a coward.
You see | am a gentlemann said
VIII Thompson. Il VIII not take an
insult" And the little fellow strutaed
up and down with rage. He had been
tn owing stones at Peter Jones, and
thought that his anger proved him to
be a gentleman.
- II you want to be a gentleman, I
should think you would be a gentle boy
first" said his teacher. - Gentlemen
do not throw stones at their neighborS.
Peter Jones did not throw stones at
you, and think he is much more of a
gentleman than you"
- But he has got patches on his
knees" said viii.
3. Bad pantaloons do not keep a boy
from being gentleman, but a bad
temper does. Now, William, if you
want to be a gentleman you must first
be gentle boy"
A little further on the teacher met
Peter Jones. Some stones had hit him
and he was hurt by them. 'Well,
Peter, what was the matter betweenyou
and VIII this morning@ he asked
- was throwing a ball at one of the
bows in play sir. and / missed him and
hit VIII Thompson $ dog"
Then, when he threw stones ut you,
why did you not throw back?"
Because, sir, my mother says to be
a gentleman | must be a gentle boy;
and / thought it best to keep out of his
way until he cooled off a little.
The teacher lived to see VIII Thomp-
son a rOwdy, and Peter Jones a gentle
man, loved and respected by all.
True manliness does not consist in
following the bad habits of men. One
of these is swearing Some boys seem
to think it is manly to swear. | have
heard them use the biggest kind of
oaths, as if it would make them appear
manly in the eyes of others. This is
all mistake. No true gentleman, or
lady either, will take the name of God
in vain. 1t is an unbecOming, useless,
and wicked habit, mostly formed in
boyhOod days, and must be avoided by
every boy who would show himself a
man.
Another habit is that of smoking and
chewing tobacco. Boys think if. they
can stand on some street corner and
have cigar or a pipe in their mouth,
they look like men. Some, who even
begin to pay their compliments to the
fairer sex, will walk along the streets
in company with a younI lady pulling
away at a cigar. The use of tobacco in
a boy is no sign of manliness. 1t is a
bad habit, that in ures the health,
blunts the moral sense, and is a usual
companion of lazness. 1t often keeps
boys from finding employment. 1t is
not manly. Boys, don't begin this
habit.
Still another habit is that of intemper-
ance. Many a boy has been led into a
life of intemperance by the mistaken
idea that it is manly to drink and stag
ger about and halo, and all such things.
This is a mistake. The practice OF
drinking lowers a boy or a young man
in the estimation of all good people.
The merchant will not employ him. He
may have the best recommendations, but
if the fumes of whisky are in his breath.
he win not be employed. The boy that
forms the habit Of drinking loses his
manhood, his character, his self-respect,
and may lose his soul. II you would
show yourself man, abstain entirely
from everything that intONicates.
True manliness does not consist in
disobedience to parents. There are
boys who, when they get TO be fifteen
or sixteen years old, think they can then
do as they please. They think it a sign
of manliness to disregard the commands
or requests of their parents. This, in
stead of being manly in a boy, IS un-
manly in any one. Some of the great
est men our country has ever had were
men who were obedient to and re-
spected their parents. James A. Gar
field was an obedient bov. and when he
was inaugurated President of the
United States, he showed his respect
for that aged mother by folding her in
his arms, and kissing her before the as
sembled multitude. George Washing
ton, when quite young, was about to
90 to sea as a midshipman. Every thing
was in readiness. His trunk had been
taken on board the boat, and he went
to bid his mother fare well, when he saw
tears filing her eyes. Seeing her dis
tress, he turned to the servant and said
"Go and tell them to fetch my trunk
back. will not 90 away to break my
mothers heart His mother, struck
with his decision, said to him: q" George,
God has promised to bless the children
that honor their pa ents; and believe
He viii bless you" And God did
bless him. He became a great and
good mantle first President OF the
United States, and is honored to-day
as the father of our country.
If you would show yourself man,
then avoid all the bad habits we have
named. Be a gentle boy. BE polite
and mannerY. Respect all who are at