The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1891-04-02
VILLAGE BOYS AND GIRLS.

1t has been my lot to spend much time
in villages and observe many circum.
stances in village life. One is, that al.
though the children have many more ad.
vantages than in the rural districts. they
are not half so appreciative. Another is,
that the girls in villages are more refined
and far better educated than theiI
brothers. This may seem strange to say
concerning children who are brought M
by the same father and mother and sub.
iected to the same influences: neverthc.
less, it is true.
| believe that much of this lack of re-
finement seen in boys who have pleasan.
homes and refined parents and sisters is
due to the use of tobacco, caused b,
having too much leisure-the fault OF
fathers and mothers who do not provide
constant employment or amusement fol
the active bodies and brains of thei,
children. For some reasons that | could
never understand, boy seems to think
that he cannot be q man until he has
learnedi to smoke. That work laccom
plished, he regards himself as fitted tc
associate with the men about town, from
whom he gets many ideas without whicl
he would be better off.
In some families there is a PREVAILING
idea that boys need a great deal NOR,
recreation than girls. Absolutely nothing
to do for several hours in the evening is
necessary for boys, while a change OF
occupation is the proper recreation fol
girls.
One instance in particular came under
my observation. | was once BOARDING
with family consisting of a father
mother and two children-a son and
daughter, both grown. They were bright
children, and were earning their own liv.
ing, the girl being employed as a tele.
graph operator, and the boy in a bank,
where he slept, made fires, and did some
writing. The daughter began her duties
at six o'clock in the morning, when a
train was dispatched, after which she
came home, made the kitchen fire. and
assisted her mother in the preparation of
breakfast. Meantime the son whose
duties did not begin until eight o'clock,
was allowed to lie in bed until breakfast
was ready. After breakfast, when both
childrenlihad gone to their respective
tasks, the mother put the house i'm order
and prepared for dinner.
The daughter had two hours at home
in the middle of the day, during which
she dined washed the dinner dishes.
donned her afternoon dress, then went
back to her work, which detained her
until seven o'clock in the evening. II
upon her return she found her mother
very tired, she insisted upon reading the
weary one to sleep. The work accom-
plished, she came back to the sitting
room TO read for himself, or to make a
pretty hat. or to work upon a pretty
dress for her mother for herself. Occa-
siOnally her young friends came i'm for a
merry time, or she spent the evening at
friends house. Sometimes a concert or
lecturer provided rest and change for the
earnest girl.
The boy, whose duties for the dav
ended at four p. M, might have split
Hndlings, sawed wood, brought coal.
raked the yard, or might even have i'm
proved his mind and manners by good
reading; but no, he must have recrea-
ton, and accordingly he stood around
every day for six mortal hours with
cigarette, cigar or pipe in his
mouth, his mind apparently a perfect
blank.
While his sister was assiduouslv Guilt
waiting every talent, the most that he had
to show was a pool of tobacco Juice ex-
perforated and from his weak but hand
some mouth, and unpaid bills for smok-
ing and chewing tobacco. His parents
seemed to think his course was the
proper one.
During the five years that l spent with
them that boy did not make one inch of
progress; on the contrary he retrograded.
Being a bright boy and IN the line of
promotion, he might have risen in bust
but he began as 'the boy" J." and remained
''the boy as long as Iknew him. The
girls assiduity was not lost Her intel
ligence, refined manners, energy and
business ability secured her regular pro
motion until she reached the position of
chief operator in the superintendent
Office, when, seeing her admirable man
agement of his business affairs, the
superintendent asked her to become his
wife, and TO manage him and his home.
This is the only case. l could quote
a dozen that have come under nv