The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1883-01-13
TRUE MANLINESS.


All my boy readers expect to be men
some day. You are like the little boy
who was pushed aside by one of those
gruf men who dom { 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: Sir they
make men out of such fellows as me-"
SO it lies in the power of every boy, if
he lives to make 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 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
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 a 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
De calleu Il coward.
you see | am gentleman" said
VIII Thompson. II will not take an
insult" And the little fellow strutted
up and down with rage. He had been
tn owing stones at Peter Jones, and
thought that his anger proved him to
be gentleman.
IF you want to be gentleman,
should think you would be a gentle boy
first" said his teacher. Gentlemen
do not throw stones at their nei9hbors.
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.
BAD pantaloons do not keep boy
from being gentleman, but bad
temper does. Now, William, if you
want to be gentleman you must first
be a gentle boy"
A little further on the teacher met
Peter Jones. Some stones had hit him
and he was hurt by them. "Wen,
Peter, what was the matter between you
and Win this morning." he asked.
Il was throwing ball at one OF the
boys in play, sir, and | missed him and
| hitWAl Thompson dog"
"Then, when he threw stones at you,
why did you not throw back?"
"Because, sir, my mother says to be
gentleman | must be gentle boy;
and | thought it best to keep out of his
way until he cooled off little. ?.
The teacher lived TO see VIII Thomp-
son a rowdy, and Peter Jones 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. l $500" -|.|t So t.U.
Another habit is that of smoking and
chewing tobacco. Boys think if they
can stand on some street corner anC
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 street;
in, company with a young lady putting
away at cigar. The use of tobacco il
boy is no sign of manliness. 1t is
bad habit that Injuries the health
blunts the moral sense. and is a usua
companion of laziness. 1t often keeps
boys from finding employment. 1t il
not manly. Boys, don't begin this
habit.
Still another habit is that of intemper
aiiee. Many a boy has been led into
lie of intemperance by the mistaken
idea that it is manly to drink aud stag
Ger about and halo, and all such things
This is mistake The practice o
drinking lowers "a boy or a young MAJ
in the estimation of all good people
The merchant will not employ him. HI
may have the best recommendations, blu
Blif the fumes of whisky are in his breath
! he will not be employed. The boy tina
I forms the habit of drinking loses hi.
! manhood, his character, his self-respect
and may lose his soul Ii you woul,
] tshow yourself a man, abstain entirely
I. from everything that intoNicates.
ia True manliness does not consist il
! ldhsobedience to parents. There ar
! boys who. when they get 10 be ltfteei
| olssiXteen years old, think they can the
I, d. as they please. They think it sig
/ of manlness to disregard the command
orrequests of their parents. This, in
stead of being manly in a boy, is III