The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1893-11-04

As TO n BOYS.

Recent Investigations by tho police
department OF this city indicate a con
ditlon of affairs, affecting the youth O
the town, that can but cause parents {
great deal of uneasiness. The case OIL
the boy who paid another to "hold him
up" o few nights ago is one in point.
The boy who planned the affair is q
member of an estimable family; his
parents have not neglected him in any
way. His home 10 pleasant and he had
the opportunity to choose for his asso-
ciates young people Of his age free
from vice. The boy was not naturally
vicious and did not realize until after
the contamination of his plans the
meanness. not to use q stronger express
sion, Of his conduct. What were the
motives that actusted himS
The answer, in tho light Of the police
investigation, is not hard to find. This
boy had, within a very few months,
become acquainted with men and women
more OF less depraved. These people
had played upon the vanity Of the lad,
made him believe he was q sport
and q big man, and .hen srtfully drawn
him into a trap, the purpose Of which
was to bleed the boy Of all the money
he could obtain, whether he came
by it honestly or dishonesty. In fact
in transactions between an unsophisti-
uated boy and an experienced knave Of
the class referred to, honor or honesty
are not mentioned; were they the pro.
posed victim might become alarmed and
escape.
Another case of the same sort is that
OF O Helena boy Of 16. carefully reared,
whose parents have done all in their
power to make his home pleasant. He
so far forgot himself as to purloin his
mothers jewelry. This boy would no,
steal simply for the sake of stealing.
Finding the boy in the case would not
do a wrong to his parents through ca
jolery Dr. f~lattery the man in this instance
scared him into committing the overt
act by telling him that there would be
an exposure OF his associations and the
thing for him to do was to got money no
matter how and leave the city. In
formed by the boy that he could not
get money the tempter told him to take
and it would be turned into
cash for him. The boy still hesitatinp,
the tempter told him that to take these
from his own folks did not
amount to much as he, the tempter, had
taken a chain from his " mother once
and pawnsd it.
These are only two OF q dozen cases
that could be cited where youths in
this town, ranging In age from lG to 20,
are on the brink of an abyss. We do
not refer to boys whose home associa-
tions are bad, but to those who arc
members Of respectable, Christian fam
lilies, and who are surrounded with the
best influences. What makes them
leave the family Preside and find CON-
panions among those who prey on
society? In many OF these cases
the parents are themselves largely tc
blame. They allow the boy Of 10 or L
to choose his own associates without
inquiry as to who those associates are.
This is q progressive country, and a.
ID or l6 the boy is supposed to be ole
enough to exercise discretion in the
choice OF companions. And it is just at
Ibis age the vampire appears and insid-
uously gains the confidence OF the bow
who is peculiarly susceptible to fiat
terry and is anxious to be considered n
"man." He does not frequent places he
would be ashamed to meet his mother
or father in because he likes them, but
because he is told it is "manly"t to do 30.
Where Is the remedy? First, it would
seem to lie with the parents, who could
with advantage to their boys consider
them such SO long as they remain un-
der the home roof. When a boy STAYS
out till all hours OF the night, and does
not tell the folks at home freely and
cheerfully how he spends his time
there is ground for suspicion that there
may be something he is ashamed to tell
Then is the time for the parent, without
nagging the boy or treating him like 1
criminal, to carefully inquire how tn.
son spends his time and whore. II tb,
result shows his associations are evil
then take more interest in him; be hi.
companion, even if you have to give II,
the lodge or are compelled to exer
yourself when you would rather take !
easy. If he has not become i~nfatua,4,
with his vicious associates, and if yo,
have watched over him as you should
it will not be difficult to interest him |,
other and better things. 1t may reuuir,
much tact and a great deal of patience
but it will be worth all the cost.
Then the police can aid. In all com
munities there are two classes of viciou
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