The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1884-05-08
| Talk to Boys and ThoIr Parents.

A TAX TO Boys ana Thelr Parehtss
The boys Of America are being de-.
morall2ed by the abonlnable printed
ltuR that Is sold under the name on
cheap literature, Dime novels and
yllalnous story papers make heroes Of
such out-throat scoundrels rs Jesse
James and Billy the Kid, and make
highway robbery appear 70 be very
fascinating occupation, The love OF
adventure existing In tho breast Of the
average boy Is perverted and played
upon by Vicious writer's and rascally.
publishers, and the very qualities which,
properly cultivated would be the foun-
dalton Of character, are oil msdirected
aud made tho incentives TO evil,
From all sections of the country come
reports of discoveries OF "Jesse James
gangs OF youngsters organized for
robbery on plans furnished by dime
novel writer's, and crimes Of the worst
description are being committed by
children not too old TO be spanked,
Boys not moro than dozen years old
have murdered their parents, and only
few days ago squad Of vicious in
lants was prevented from poisoning tho
mothers OF all the members only by tho
timely confession Of o seyon-year-old
Borgia
The puryeyors OF vile books cannot
be denounced too severely for thus de-
pravlng the minds Of children, but
parents are guilty Of oontrlbutory neg
llgence in falling TO counleraet the in
luence Of such literature by common
sense talks to their children
Last week two boys ran away from
Gloucester with their pockets stuffed
full OF dime novels and their heads full
Of wild schemes for "mNking their own
way as they explained their notions.
What these adventurous youngsters
need Is some person 10 say 20 them'
"Boys, the men who live long and have
good times IN this world are not the
murderers, robbers, tramps and mis-
colaneous outcasts you read about In
| dime novels. Jesse James did not en-
| 10y life bit. He robbed trains TO get
money 10 buy liquor and got drunk with
q lot Of State prison birds, When he
was with his companions he was in
mortal terror lest one OF them might be
an officer IN disguise ready 10 shoot
him at the first opportunity Ho did
not dare to go among decent people
and live like whito man. He was
hunted from town TO town, and had no
peace on earth. Such men as no will
always be miserable, and they ought TO
be so. lfyou try 10 live as he did you
will get yourself hanged, on somebody
will shoot you In tho back Of the head,
and serve you right Don't get the
idea into your head that II Is smart 10
steal from other folks, or noble 10 go
around shooting at them, because II
you DO somebody will take u club and
beat out the idea and your brains at
the same time, and nobody will bo
sorry for you either, The books you
have been reading tell nothing but lies,
and II you believe them you will get
into trouble sure as fate. Tho folks
who run things in this country are the
ones who work for their bread, and
they won't let you be robbers or bandits
IN slouch hats and pistols in your
belts They'll lock you up In jail
the first time you try Il and make you
work blamed sight harder for bread
and water than you'd have to outside
for roast@urkey, You try togetup any
JESSE JANNs business around here,
aud the pollcN will catch you, and II
you go Misunderstanding into houses,
you will get TO bG%uoh mean, miserable
men that your mothers won own YOU,
You cant be bad menNQut West either,
There are too many COON men there 70
let you ride around llourNhng pistols
and trying TO get your naiSs Nto dime
novels, They'll takeyo oM ami hang
YOU up on tree for the crows TO Seat.
II you want 10 make your own way
90 10 work for carpenter or mN
chinist, or somebody, and learn how 70
handle tools, You can make your way
honestly with saw or drill but You
can't make anything but road to Stat,
prison with pockotful OF dime novels,
II farmer secs you trying to make
your own way In the dime.novel style,
he will set the dogs on you, The ban,
| dit business don't pay worth cent, and
II you want 10 start in on that line you
just make up your mind TO live like o
dog aud die young
After talking TO the boys In this way,
II would bo u good idea 70 inform them
that a Young JESSE JAMES In philadel'
phia has just been sent 70 prison for o
year for carrying u pistol Boston
Globe