The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1884-01-20
TO BOYS.

every other Territory or State, are
many. 1t seems necessary in thi!
life that communities and indi
viduals should want. If they had
everything they required, and
wanted nothing, they would soor
rust out and go to decay. Their
wants stimulate them to the energy
necessary to satisfy their needs, and
thus they are kept active, and life
continues, though there may not be
health.
In common with other communi-
ties, one of Utah's wants is a new
kind Of boy. The physical pattern
of the average boy of the period is
good enough; in fact is so nearly
correct that very little improve
ment In this respect could be sug-
gested. What we want in the new
boy is an improved mental and
moral organization. We want kind
of boy that is not afraid of work.
By work, we do not mean
to confine the word to*running on
errands, serving as cash boys
standing behind dry goods coun-
ter and smiling blsndly on lady Gus
toners, to adding long columns of
figures, nor to writing a fair hand
in addressing envelopes. These are
all important and necessary labors,
and are as honorable and praise.
worthy as any others. By no means
would we be understood as belittling
any Of these occupations; on the
contrary, they are to be approved
and encouraged. But all the boys
cannot be cash boys, messengers and
book-keepers, and it is a remodelling
of those who cannot do these things
that is desired. Where there is one
lad who finds profitable and light
employment there are twenty who
do not. These twenty are they who
require to learn to work
and to overcome their aver
sion to labor. We want race of
boys who know something OF the
hammer, the saw. the plane and the
composing stick; boys who are not
afraid to soil their hands with forge |
cinders or printers ink; boys who
can dig and delve, who can handle
the pick, shovel and trowel, who
can roll wheelbarrow, plough, SOW
and reap: who can build and pro-
duce as we'll So tear down and con-
sumo; who do not regard manual
labor as dishonest or as showing a
want of brain power.
In country districts the boys, as
rule, are an improvement upon the
city boys. The former may know
less about circuees, variety shows
and barrcom slang; they may not
be rs skilled in the art of tying
and combing their front
hair; but they understand q
good deal better how to find
the bottom of a posthole. and can
guide a plew with as high a de-
gree of skill as the city chap can
twirl a rattan or manage a cigars
cite.
When the new and improved
pattern of boy comes into existence
and becomes prevalent, we will see
the streets free from lads from IL
to 20 years of age who are fed,
housed and clothed in idleness by
too indulgent parents, and instead
will encounter boys whose ambi-
ton scars above the sphere OF the
I0afer to that Of the toiler and pro-
Queer. Instead of every year SHOW
ing a lot of overgrown boys, with
out ambition or resource, into the
field of manhood. men-boys will
crowd ahead, leaving the years to
lag behind.
Parents may do much in the mat
ter Of bringing upon the field of ac>
ton the improved boy, by teaching
their lads that the noblest aspira-
ton in this life is the ambition to do
something and be something, and
per contra, that the least proud
distinction is to do and be nothing.
Teachers also can help along by
teaching boys that it is just as hon
orable and praiseworthy to shove a |
plane or swing3a hammer as it is to |
measure tape and calico, and that 1t
is positively ldisgraceful to ioiter
about the streets waiting for an easy