The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-04-19
Hints to Boys and Mothers.

If girls are often awkward, ungrace-
full and liable to fall into habits which
injure both their health and beauty,
what shall be said of boys of the same
age? Most mothers take great pains
with the girls of the family, seeming to
think that their chances in life
largely depend upon their looks ana
manners.
Yet these same mothers seem utterly
Indifferent to the disagreeable habits of
their boys; or they shift the response
bility ON to The shoulders of the dancing
master or boarding-school teacher, and
grumble if he does not change them
into Apollos; or, after few inefficient
efforts, they give up with u Departing:
a don't believe boys can help being
awkward. They'll come out all
right after a few years, and no one ex-
poets much of boy Now it is pos
sible, though not probable, that the IN
couth boy will become a Incorporating
man; but, even if he should, is it worth
while that he should for years render
himself disagreeeble TO all but his near
est friends that he should repelinstead
of attract?
Outdoor exercise and sports do much
to make boys strong and straight; yet it
is very common among those who are
growing fast Especially if they read Or
study good deaD, to find the head
thrust forward the shoulders round
and STOPPING, and aslouching, ungrace-
ful carriage. Until these things are
corrected, DO boy can be thoroughly
strong and vigorous. Is the health of
your boy of any less Importance than
that of your girl?
Biting the nails is one of the most an
moving habits, and vet one which almost
| any boy will fall into unless his mother
''nips it in the bud Not only is it al
most uncomfortable for a nervous person
to sit in the room with one of these nail
biting boys, but the young mans hands
are injured in appearance, and, if the
! habit be carried toeXcess, they will be-
| come almost delormed. In these days
of professional manicures, mothers
ought, at least, to see that there are no
ragged nails and raw fingers among
their children.
A habit Of snuiling, or of scraping the
throat, of tapping the floor with the
! foot, or the table with the knuckles,
comes on gradually, but, once fixed, is,
exceedingly difficult to overcome.
Eternal vigilance should be a
mother watchword, for the true secret
of curing bad habits is in never allow
ing them to be formed. The "ounce OF,
! prevention" is worth more than the
| 'pound of cure !!
would not take away anything of
! boyishness or naturalness. A real boy
is worth half dozen tops or dudes.
| But l do not see why boys should not
be as graceful and well-mannered as
their sisters; why they can not sit down
at 4 table without hitting it and Earring
the dishes as well as the tempers of the
! whole family; why they can not eat
slowly and noiselessly; why they can
not cross q room without stumbling
against the furniture; or close door
without slamming it; or sit quietly while
reading or listening.
1t shodld be perfectly natural for 3
| boy to lift sis hat to his mother or sister
when he chances to meet them on the
! street; to rise from a comfortable chair
when older persons enter the room: to
entertain a visitor when the rest of the
household is occupied. DO you say it
is too much for boy to think of all
these things? If the mother has trained
him from babyhood constantly and
carefully, he will do them without
thinking.
Good manners are a growth, and boy
hood is the time, and home the place,
in which they should grow-MrS. NJ.
C. Rankin, in CongregatiOnalist.
!