The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1883-02-08
HOW TO BE MANLY.

HOW TO BE MANLY.
All my boy readers expect to be men
sore day. You are like 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: al
wonder of what good YOU are anvhow?p
The boy looked up and said: ''Sr, they
make men out of such fellows as me. !"
so it lies in the power of every boy, if
he lives, to make q man out OF himself
TO ''show himself a man. HI 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 as big
as his father Boys try to show them
selves to be men long before. they are
out of their teens. But many have
very mistaken idea of true manliness
Some think it consists in physical
strength, enabling one to whip every
other boy that dares to saw word to
them; that it is 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 I am gentleman!n said
! Will Thompson. Il VIII not take an
insult" And the little fellow strutted
zip and down with rage. He had been
III owing stones at Peter Jones, and
thought that his anger proved him to
ibe gentleman $50
If you want to be a gentleman,
! 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. 4s t2t'sz.
bad pantaloons do not keep boy
[ from being a gentleman, but bad
temper does. Now, William, if you
want to be gentleman you must, first
be gentle boy.n
A little further on the teacher met
Peter Jones. Some stones had hit him
and he was hurt bv them. "Well,
/ Peter, what was the matter betweenyou
and viii this morning." he asked,
II was throwing ball at one Of the
boys in play, sir. and missed him and
hit VIII Thompson dog"
T. '.Then, when he threw stones at you,
why did you not throw back?n
| because, sir, my mother says to be
| gentleman | must be a gentle 10y;
| and thought it best to keep out of his
! way until he cooled off a little
The teacher lived to see Will Thomp-
| son 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
1 to think it is manly TO swear. phaye
heard them use the biggest kind, of
| Oaths, as if it would make them appear
| manly in the eyes of othefs9 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 habits 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
I falrer sex, will walk. along the streets
1 in company with young lady putting
| away at cigar. The use Of tobacco in
boy is no sign of manliness. 1t is a
bad habit, that INJURIES the health,
/ blunts the moral sense. aud is a iIsu al
| companion of laziness. 1t often keeps
boys from finding employment. 1t is
not manly. Boys, don't begin this
habit. q
Still another habit is that of intenper-
anee. Many boy has been led into a
life of intemperances by the mistaken
idea that it is manly to drink and stag,
ger about and halo, and alisuch 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. bestrecommendatio but
If the fumes of whisky are in his breath,
he wiil not be employed. The boy that
forms the habit of drinking loses his
manhood, his character, his self-respect,
and may lose his soul. If youfwould
show yourself man, abstain entirelu
from everything that intoSicates.S
True manliness does not consist in
dlsobedience 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 sign
of manliness to disregard the commands
or.requests of their parents. This, in
stead of being manly in a boy, is UNI
many IN any one. Some of the great
est men our country has ever had we're
men who were obedient TO and re-
4 spected their parents James A. Gar
field was an obedient boy. 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
60 to sea as midshipman. Everything
was in readiness. His trunk had been
taken on board the boat. and be went
to BID his mother farewell, when he saw
tears filling her eyes. Seeing her dis
tress, he turned to the servant aud said