The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1888-10-04
Spending Money for Boys.

of money to spend as they choose. We
have all, probably, seen both plans tried,
both fail, both succeed.
Like good many others, this question
does not stand alone. It has to be gov
erned by the same principle that governs
all the moral training of our boys; is
part, only, of a large plan for the devel.
5opment of character.
- &, To say that some boys are the better
for having money to spend unquestioned
and that some are worse, that parents
must watch characteristics and judge
wisely, ,is no help at all. We all know
that. -
Some are naturally honorable and
self;controlled, some the reverse. Some
will seem to grow up we'll under either
treatment. Others will need the careful,
thoughtful guiding, and will respond to
it; while they would fail wofully for the.
lack of it.
But; unless you are sure that your boy
lis better for the free allowance, you
have any uncertainty. about the matter,
there are several good reasons Why it is
better to have him 60 without.
Two principles are good to inculcate at
an early age. The first is, "Earn and
have" Let the boy feel that his father
and mother earn what they have; that
they have the right to spend it as they
choose, for need or pleasure; that be
has. not the right TO take and use, for
needless, unadvised pleasure, what he
has not earned; that, because be was not
theearner, he must be accountable for
all he uses.
The second principle is that home,
food, clothing and education are full
compensatioDs for all he can give of
taithfulness, Industry, obedience, earnest
study and good habits. Whatever else
parents give! is of their specia kindness,
and not to be viewed by the boy as his
due. Many heartaches would be saved
if boys were made to feel these two
principles in a right, broad, kind way ),
from the beginning. g
In some cases / have known good
effect to come from telling boy what
the law requires from fathers--to give
their boys shelter and clothing sufficient
to keep them from suffering from the
elements and food to keep them from
starving OF sickness, if they are able to
give these. All else is the fathers free
gift to the boy ----,-->
It's good TO- have such a Wholesome
relation between boy and his parents
.thats he can always feel free to go to them,
ask: for money to go toa specified place
ior. buy q specified thing, get the money
:if.itis right and berefused ifit is wrong,
and all IN a reasonable way /; or to givea
boy an allowance, and require an itemi.
.zed account Of; its expenditure. Either
way makes the; boy accountable to higher
authority, and helps growth in wisdom
and care. Be sure you watch closely in
either case to see if your boys word is
Ito be relied upon. Do not be suspicious,
but .ba watchful. It is not good for q
boy to feel suspicion, but tits good for
him to feel watchfulness.
Onegood reason why boys should not
have free spending money is that it ens
{bles them to go into places that they
otherwise could not enter. Money is.a
key to bad doors as we'll as good, and
somehow slips easier, into the bad doors.
Imust stay out of certain places ifI have
not money to get in. a second reason is
that boys who. do not have free spending
money are: not apt to be. favorities with
bad boys. 81 love you for yourself alone"
lis not;aptto be ruling bond of friend:
ship between q. bad boy and another, bad
or good. Money helps along a perni-5
!cious friendship very rapidly.
Temptations multiply with money and
unaccountability. Even little indulgen..
Sces, not absolutely wrong in themselves,
grow upon a boy until they weaken body.
or character. Such things as quantities
of candy frequent lunches at unseasona.
BILE hours, q surplus of neckties and kid
gloves, q variety of scarf pins and hats,
and even the habit of easy, frequent gift
giving that means nothing of self-sacri;
sioeto the giyer, are things far from
desirable.
Some persons feel that when a boy
begins to earn money in small sums, as
some of our boys do at. an early age, he
should have that to spend freely and
without. account. Ifthe boy goes away
.ftom home be must do this it is almost
the only way. But. if he stays in the
home, is very unwiae not to make him
pay portion of. his wages toward his
board, even if he earns only two or three
dollars week. Be sure he will value
the home more highly for abiding By
the principle, Earn and have"
s know one father who saw with satis.'
faction his boys spend their money in
taking nice young girls out to places OF
amusement, giving them flowers and
other gifts, and thought how much better
that was than spending their evenings
off with the boys. So oit seemed. Butno
money was put into the home, and, nat
.urally, none into the bank; mother
and sister were less in their minds and
actions than the girls they, escorted !;
tastes grew extravagant wrong ideas
of life were gained; evenings at home
were deemed stupid and grew fewer.
And all this tended toward weakening
sof character and depraving of taste.
The boys became worthless, dissipated
young men, and arehopeless problems to
their father to day.
Watchful guidance, discriminating
Judgment, are to be used always; but 1t
lis better to err by too trict denial of
money freedom than to put the tempta.
tion. Of unaccountability in way of our
growing young men,. .junidtta Stafford,
IN the Christian Register.
Senator Hearsts First Dime.
flf . = - & Il Z --.-a 3