Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1893-09-07
Who is to Blame?

When youthful scions of worthy
parents fall into bad habits and develop
propensities that bring shame and
sorrow on themselves and their parents
there is something lacking in training,
environment, or association. 1t is no
light thing to have the responsibility of
the young of either sex. There are
few things that have so often resulted
| III the one consequence, that they have
become almost as settled as the rule,
that night follows day. Let a boy
spend his leisure on the streets, out at
night, idle loafing, seeking diversion
in excitment, and the inevitable result
is lawlessness and evil habits. Boys are
prone to wilfulness, apt to chafe under
restraint and oftimes parents lose con-
troll of their sons through fear of their
leaving home, and worse things befall-
ing them, vain hopel indulgence and
license never yet reformed a wilful
child. There is such a thing as driving
children from home by narrow theories,
by depriving them of all of the elements
Of enjoyment, by forgetting that all
work and no play makes Jack a dull
boy, but this is not the case with the
boys in our city who rank as ''toughs."
Idleness is the main cause, "Satan finds
some mischief still foridle handsto do"
Let the parents see to it that some
work, regular and systematic and suit
able for the age of their children is
provided, and that it is accomplished
in a gwen time each day. Let the
evenings be spent at home, break UP
the habit that requires a companion in
all of the routine of the day. 1t is one
of the worst possible faults to get boy
into, to feel that whether getting wood,
or working in garden, or doing chores
he must have some companion. It I'M
fits him for any responsibility. 1t cult
Yates desire for excitement, it wastes
time and brain power, distracts the
mind from thought See to it that the
boys do their work regularly, and alone,
letting company and other boys be an
after consideration and half the temp
tation to wrong doing is removed.
Keep them at home nights, or 60 with
them when entertainments are to be at
tended. Know where your children are
and how they conduct themselves. If
you can't do this send them to state
institutions, or put them under the care
of those who can control them to their
good.
1t were a consummation to be sought,
that in some way, the gathering of boys
on streets at late hours be broken up.
We need as a city to return to the
methods employed by Mr.. Bell who
while he was guardian of the night,
kept strict watch over the doings of
idle loafing boys, and sent them home
in seasonable hours. No midnight
carouslng then. Are we as a city to
blame for allowing it now? Are we to
blame in allowing pernicious literature
to be disseminated among the boys?
Are we to blame that minors frequent
saloons, and commit depredations
nightly? A few evenings since ladies
were annoyed by rude remarks from
boys congregated near the Cong1 church.
A prominent young lady is authority for
saying that young boys frequently an
noy ladies who cross the bridge even
ings by rude remarks. An evening
gathering was disturbed recently by
boys with bells, horns etc., bent on
forcing treat. Who is to blame if we
have no official to put stop to dis
orderly conduct that leads to criminal
deeds? Recent events call loudly for
a change and stricter suryillience over
the idle boys of the town.