The Arizona sentinel. [volume] (Arizona City [Yuma], Yuma County, A.T. [Ariz.]) 1872-1911, 1889-05-18
NUMBER 25.
AT HON E.
Where Boys Real Characters May Be
KnOwn-"Company Manners" Easily
Detected.


| Detected.
1t has come to be almost a proverb
that if you would know what a man
really is, you must know what he is
in his own home. Because it is unfortun-
ately true, that many one who appears
all kindness and courtesy outside, with
in the sacred precincts proves to be
cross and churlish. The saying ap-
plies to the boy as truly.
All! if / could look into your homes.
l know how varied they are, small cot
tages, and stately mansions, farm
houses and brownstone fronts, suite
or ote room, care not. Each is the
plac8 some boy of mine calls home,
andA / could see him there how much
Ishonld 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, Gt 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 l 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. 1t is a
high motive, for we should never be in
different to their opinion. (Sir Mat
young man is not far from ruin who
can say truthfully: Il don't care what
others think of me.'") 1t is 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 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 l believe there was an
underlying truth. like to have boy
grow up with kind of knightly feeling
toward all women, and it is good
thing for him to begin with his mother
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 l 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.
1 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 1.-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 or say or
how they behave, because they are at
home and ''it's only our folks" am
troubled about them.-N. Y. Observer. :.