The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-02-27
IarirnHnral.
t. H. HosKINs. Newport. VT, Editor.
The Rights OF Boys.

worthy of attention of their mothers and
sisters, who have heretofore monopolzed
public sympathy. He says:
"Another way in which great wrong
has been done the boys is through the
habit many parents and sisters have of
treating them as interiors. 1t is habit
thoughtlessly acquired, and houghtlessly
practiced; but, for all that, not the less
unjust and cruel in its results. 1T is q
very common thing in farmers families to
see great Partially shown the girls in re-
gard to attentions bestowed upon per-
sonal appearance, and time and opportu-
mites allowed for the cultivation of those
little accomplishments which give young
people ease and confidence in society and
in themselves. 1t is not thought that the
boys-great rough fellows, with their big
hands and dusty boots-have any need of
accomplishments. What company fit to
be admitted into the parlor would ever
wish to see them, or how could anybody
expect that they could be made fit to be
seen in the psrlor Those boys, with
their coarse, dusty clothes and rough
hair ? No, indeed nice chairs and
lounges and carpets were not made for
such as they. When company comes to
spend the evening, the girls can brush
their hair, slip on clean dress, and assist
their parents in entertaining them; but
the boys are seldom thought of as part
of the family on such occasions. A case
in point was where the visitor at a
wealthy farmers house had withdrawn,
with the farmer, and his wife and two
daughters, to the parlor after supper.
They were social, pleasant people, and the
girls exerted themselves to make the
evening pass cheerfully. One of them
gave some passable music on the melo-
deon, but remarked, looking wistfully at
her mother, that her brother George
played and sung so much better than she
it was pity he could not come in. She
was met by the reply that if one of the
boys came in all the rest must follow, and
they were so rough the kitchen was the
only place they we're fit for. So the boys
stayed in the kitchen with the hired man,
not because they were not as smart and
intelligent as their sisters, but because, as
they were only boys, the parlor was too
nice for them. They were particularly
noticed the next day, and, as far as fine
forms moved by active limbs aud good
features, lighted up by bright eyes, could
60 to make sons to be proud of, there was
certainly cause for parental pride in
them; but they were shy of being spoken
to, awkward and ungainly in manner,
and ate their meals and went about their
work in sort of logged, carefor-nothing
way, as if that were all they knew, and
all they expected to know. Another
thing was noticed. The house being large
and new one, the owner was not little
proud of it, and desired his daughters to
show the company through all the rooms
from cellar to garrett. Comfort and con-
venience seemed to reign everywhere, with
but two exceptions-in the parlor and in
the boys chamber. There was too much
furniture and formality in the former, and
far too little in the latter. The girls had
a beautiful, light, airy room, nicely car
peted. There was toilet stand, with all
its tasteful appliances, table with few
books and magazines upon it, and two or
three pretty pictures hung against the
walls. Passing this, there was a door
standing open which gave view of
large, notwithstanding chamber in which
stood two beds in opposite corners. There
were three windows, two of which were
curtained by an old sheet which had been
as bare as the glazier had left it. There
was no carpet on the floor, no pictures on
the walls, and the only furniture besides
the beds was two or three chairs, row of
clothes hung along the wall at one end
and several pairs of coarse boots and
shoes under them. One of the sisters
stepped on little in advance, and, draw.
ing the door shut, remarked, " Oh, that is
only the boys room there's nothing in
there you'll care to see." Enough was
seen, such as it was. Now, let common
sense ask if it is doing the boys Justice
to treat them so. There they are, work.
ing faithfully in the fields, day after day,
and year after year. The fruit of their
labor has gone very far towards building
and furnishing the house, and yet what
enjoyment have they of it They get
their meals there, and sleep there, and it
is called their home. AS much may be
said of the old watchdog in the yard.
But mothers protest that boys are always
80 rough, especially farmers boys moth
ing else can be expected of them. OF
course not, with such treatment. If they
are brought up rude and rough, no one
can wonder or blame them if they act 80.
But should they not, in justice, have the
same chance for life, and the full, free home
enjoyment of it as their sisters have
Let parents try the boys, and see if they
will not improve as we'll as their daugh-
ters in matters of department and per-
sonal appearance. When they have COM
pany let the sons be treated as members of
the family, equally entitled to notice and
respect as their sisters, and it will soon
be found that they will not be behind in
contributing to the interest and enter
tainment of the home circle. Furnish
their rooms in way that will be comfort
able and attractive, and see if they do not
show proficiency in the arts of order
and neatness that will convince these
skeptical mothers that their sons are as
capable OF being gentlemen as their
daughters are of being ladies. Boys
should be encouraged to respect them.
selves, and to try to be somebody, and
should have material given them to do it
with. That is, they want toilet table
and glass in their room, with combs,
brushes and conveniences for washing.
It's always to be supposed that they have a
second suit to put on if occasion requires,
and at very trifiing expense pair of
slippers or house shoes could be provided,
30 that the heavy, dusty boots might no
longer stand between them and the par
lOr do0ra IF m0thera and eiatara xuara