The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-04-04
OUR BOYS-NO. 1.

To the Editor OF the Indianapolis Jou rnal:
There is one problem of more Importance than
the labor problem which is now uppermost in
the public mind. 1t is, "How to raise boys
that they will become good citizensY" The
most interesting object on this planet is a live,
active boy The most difficult problem in the
universe is "How to raise him9' Every parent
realizes this Give him good food exercise and
clothing and he will grow physically strong and
vigorous. But the boys mind requires
the same treatment in order to de-
velop it into strong, intellectual
manhood. AS the locomotive, when the track
and under con-. oi, is made the motive power
which transports the commerce of the world,
but when uncontrolled, an object of danger, so
it is with boy. Badly managed, he is danger
Well managed he becomes blessing to
the world In this article wish to call atten-
ton to the chief evil that attends the rearing of
boys in our cities 1t is idleness. Employment
is the safety-valve that must be opened Co
prevent disaster. He must be kept busy.
Why the streets filled with noisy, i'll behaved
boys? Why do they flock about wharf-boat and
railroad depots and annoy conductors by riding
on the steps of transg Why are they seen in
groups about the doors of theaters, and why in
swarms about circus groundsY The answer is,
"want of occupation" In the earlier days of our
country this was different. Boys kept
busy. They worked side by side with their fathers.
clearing the forests rolling and burning the logs
and brush, chopping wood or guiding the pillow.
His choiseSt occupation was handling the colts
ard training them to work
But these advantages denied the boys Of
our villages, towns and cities The avenues for
labor open TO them are such as take them from
homo to sell newspapers, black boots or sell
boiled eggs and fruit on the trains. These occu-
pations are all honorable enough if there were
proper restraints thrown about them. But
these are wanting, and to the majority of boys.
they are demoralizing. Many parents neglect
their children. Truancy from school follows.
Away from school, their associations bad.
Allowed to be absent from home till a late hour
of night is still more demoralizing
1t was said by Geo. d. Prentice that, to the
youth, the hours of greatest danger were those
between sunset and bedtime Away from home
at such times deprives boys of home influences,
and exposes them to three-fold more temptations
than attend the hours of the day Life on the
streets is fraught with the greatest dangers.
What is needed is that boys be sent to school
When the school day ends let parents require 3
prompt return home There let chores be pro-
vided to keep boys busy. AT supper let the fam
lily all be assembled, and after supper let both
parents provide suitable home amusements
and studies till the hour for f0A~
firing to rest Happy is that home
where some provision is thus made. Sad, in
deed, is it where the father leaves the table to
spend the night in saloons in the various
other dissipations ever provided by the devil in
towns and cities. | know Of nothing which,
doing much to demoralize our youth as idle
ness. Let the schools do the work by day and
let parents provide cheerful homes for their
children when there is no school; when the
summer vacation draws near, let no effort
be spared to provide work for the boys. The
mother, with her housekeeping cares, can easily
provide this for the girls But it requires effort
to provide occupation for the boys. Let this be
made study by every parent, and some solu-
ton will be found T. j. CHARLTON.