The Ohio Democrat. (Logan, O. [Ohio]) 1886-1906, 1889-05-04

or one room, / care not. Each Is the
place some boy Of mine calls home,
and II I could see him there how much
l should know about him.
Suppose could see how you sit at the
table, how you eat, how you answer
your mother, how you treat your sister,
whether you hang up your coat or
throw it down, whether you wait re-
spectfully for a chance to speak, or
must be continually suppressed, Git is
not to be denied that an American boy
usually has an opinion on all subjects),
whether you are modest or self-assert-
ing, whether you keep your dress and
hands neat or untidy. whether you are
quick and thoughtful to give help in
little ways, or the reverse; all these and
many more ''whethers," If / could see,
would make me know you pretty well.
But you must remember that just such
things as these are seen and noticed by
those who come to your homes, and
company manners" are easily detect
ed. Yet that is not the highest motive,
what others will think of you. II is a
different to their opinion. (Sir Mat
thew Hale, think it was, said: THAT
young man is not far from ruin who
can say truthfully: Il don't care what
others think of me. IVY tbs higher still
to wish to be through and through what
we would like to have them think we
are, and highest of all to be and do,
because certain things are right to be
and do
Perhaps because | am q woman,
feel an especial interest in your deport-
ment toward your mothers and sisters.
but indeed apart from any personal in
terest, that is most important element
in the formation of honorable charac-
ter. You have read about the old days
of chivalry, when the knights swore to
respect and do homage to womankind.
They said then that he who was true to
his knightly duty would have every
virtue, for that was the root of all; he
must OF necessity be brave, and faithful
and pure. We know there was much
that was sentimental, and not true senti-
ment in this. yet believe there was an
underlying truth. like to have boy
grow up with kind of knightly feeling
toward all women, and it is good
and sisters,
Therefore DO not be sparing of the
little attentions, which you would be
quick TO show to others. 1t is good to
see boy just as careful and thoughtful
for his own sister, as if she was some
other boys sister Always remember
that it is your place to stand up for her
and protect her, and show your manli-
ness for her. And do say, chivalry
or no chivalry, the lad is not likely to
go very far astray who habitually and
heartily does tender and loving service
to those nearest home friends. Let us
never forget that Christ in the midst of
His suffering, kept His sorrowing
mother in mind, and provided for her
future comfort, leaving us an ex-
ample.
/ can not help thinking about the
years to come; how you will grow out
of these homes and into other homes
where you will sit at the head of the
table and be "the man of the house"
The boy is the man in miniature. He
who is patient. good-natured and help
full now will hardly be irritable and ex-
acting then; he who honors his mother
now will trust and honor his wife
then; he who is neat in all his personal
habits now will not then become an OBJ
ject of aversion; and surely he who
now in his own room daily kneels in
prayer will not neglect then to COM
mend his own home to God.
But for those other boys who think it
doesn't matter what they do Cr say or
how they behave, because they are at
home and 'it's only our folks" l am
about them. IN. Y. Observer