Los Angeles herald., 1891-07-09
ABOUT BOYS AND FIGHTING.
Mrs. Kate Upson Clark Offers Some
Words of Wisdom.
Especial Correspondence.l


NEW YORK, June S.-Mr James Russell
Lowell says that "a capacity for indigna-
tion is part of the outfit of every honest
man." So that it may be said that capac-
ity for fighting should be part of the out
fit of every honest boy. The mother of
our-year-old child, who had brought him
up in the belief that it is wicked ever to
''strike back" was in the habit of allowing
him to play on the sidewalk in front of the
house. For two days in succession he
came in screaming and reporting that a
neighbours child had struck him.
"You must have made faces at him or
called him names, or have done something
to provoke him." the mother insisted, for
she did not think it possible that any being
could exist who could wantonly lift a
hand against her precious darling. She
did not know so much about boys then as
she has since learned.
The child declared that he had done
nothing wrong, and on the third day was
naturally timid about venturing again
upon his little playground, but his mother
assured him that she would watch him
every moment, and he sailed forth.
A half hour later he was playing inno-
Gently with a little cart, when the obnox-
ious boy, who was perhaps a head taller
than himself, came staggering along and
demanded the cart.
"If you don't give it right to me I'll
strike you," he answered.
The trembling youngster yielded up his
cart Immediately.
"Now I'll strike you anyway, cause
you're so 'fraid proceeded the little bully,
and he was about to make his word good
upon his retreating victim when he was
Ii H. r.<~lxA I'D nrxk
mother, who personified for moment
The million stars which tremble
Ger the deep mind of dauntless infancy.
From this moment she altered her train
ing She told her son that he must give
his playmates to understand that he could
not be attacked with impunity; that who
ever struck or insulted him in any way did
so at his peril; that he should never fall
upon another unless it was necessary, but
that he must so conduct himself as to be
respected in any encounter.
"Pluck and you will be a match for the
Goliath of any unworthy cause" she
taught him, and henceforward she en-
deavored to enkindle within him Il right
eous "hate Of hate and scorn of scorn," as
we'll as of Glove of love"
Pheispeedy reduction of the bully next
door followed the very first lesson, and the
child grew to manhood without any fur
ther trouble from similar characters.
In world so full of wickedness as this,
every good man should know how to chit
from the shoulder straight" and the gen
eral rules of "the manly art of self de-
fense." Especially does he need this
knowledge in foreign countries. Walking
along Paris street recently a beautiful
young woman was approached by well
dressed Frenchman, who murmured some
thing insulting as he passed her.
Her companion, the son of we'll known
missionary and himself an exemplary
| Christian, overheard the remark, and al
most before the shocked and frightened
| girl could see what was going on, he hit the
scoundrel who had uttered it blow in the
| forehead which felled him to the sidewalk.
what became of the rascal?" asked
some one to whom the girl told the story.
Il do not know" she replied with a
laugh Neither Mr.. S. nor L looked be-
hind us, and we were not molested; but
fancy the fellow learned for once lesson
in decency." KATE UPsoN CLARK.