Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-09-05
hTALK To BOYS.

''C0me. Let US Reason together "oiuS VI WIS
dom to the Rising Generation.
My son, drop that penny novel or flash
paper and let's have little chat.
Yes, Indian and detective stories are thrill
lug, but don't go too fast. The chances are
that YOU will never see q live Indian out
side of circus or street parade; as for kill
ing 'em-don't.
No doubt you could strap u bowie knife
and revolver around your waist, and take a
loaf Of bread under one arm and the pam
phlet life of Buffalo Bill under the other,
and 90 west and slay Indians by the cord,
but don't do it,
An Indian has feelings, the same as a
white man, and as few Of them have laid by
any bonds or mortgages, or invested to any
great extent in life insurance, you must
realize that the widows and orphans ofyour
victims would be left in sad plight.
As for detective stories 60 and talk with
real detective or a county sheriff. Ask 'em
about "Old Sleuth's' disguses and exploits
and magic luck, and then listen carefully
while they tell you what a fool you are max
ing of yourself by grinding the end of your
nose against such trashy fiction. We want
YOU to read, but for the Lords sake look
about for something different There are
good hoy books, your father takes the home
papers, and ifyou should read a page or two
of history now and then you wouldn't waste
your time.
That crowd Of New York publishers who
are flooding the country with flash papers
and penny novels arc your worst enemies.
No matter to them whether you grow up q
respectable man or murderer, so long as
they get your money. Their strories are
the basest lies, too silly even for a boy ten
wears old to believe.
Now, then, look about you and sec how
many men in our stores and factories and
offices and upon the streets are getting gray
and wrinkled and old Twenty years from
now not one in ten of whom you see i'll
business to-day will beabe put their shoul-
ders to the wheel. Even decade will re-
tire tens of thousands. What then? Why,
my son. this is q world which knows no
stop. This is life which knows no rest
until old age compels it.
When the men of to-day are laid up in
dry docks the boys of to-day will be the
fresh hands called on deck to work the ship.
They will be the merchants farmers, manu-
facturers and professional men of the future.
You will have to bear the burdens and
anxieties OF keeping this country on the
track of peace and prosperity, and your
voice will sound from the halls of Congress
and your pens write words to burn in the
memory Of future generations.
Come, now, begin right. Don't you get
iuto your head that an Indian-killer is about
four pegs above State Senator.
Don't imagine that a detective wouldn't
trade places with a lawyer very quick if he
had his say about it. Don't you believe
that an embezzler, burglar or murderer is
hero, and that men admire him. Dropyour
novels and flash papers as a starter. The
boy who feeds on such trash gets false i'm
pressions Of the world, and is more certain
to bring up in prison than in respectable
employment. If you have a pistol fling it
aside The man who carries one about the
streets is coward, and men mark him as
= lch. II you have a bowie knife on hand
lurn it over to your mother for Il meat or
bread knife Ifyou have sand club lying
around loose shy it into the ditch before any
body finds out how empty your head has
been That pair of brass knuckles can be
tossed into the river; "Old Sleuth' will
make bonfire. and then you are ready to
begin life and to ask yourself what trade or
profession shall be yours when done in
school