Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1894-12-15
THE pROBLEn OF TO-DAY.


this gcntleman's experience and
ability we must say that we do not !
believe il. Not only is the state
nent erroneous. but this sentiment,
already too prevalent, is a danger
Gus sentiment to teach to any peo-
pie. The idea prevails too largely
among our young people today that
il is the duty of parents to educate
them, equip them with all the
means, intellectual, physical and
moral, place them in a prosperous
position with sufficient capital to
insure success in life. The result il
lack of proper effort. and conse-
uuent weakness and mere depend
encc on their part. II is to such
teaching and this prevailing scnti-
ment that may be traced the cause
for much of the growing unrest and
dissatisfaction of the American
people of today, which we see man
ifested in the agitation and rapid
changes going on in the social and
political world. Dissatisfaction
with society. dissatisfaction with
the government, dissatisfaction
with the world. \ great many pco-
pie seem to think that society or the
government. or somebody. or some
thing, owes il to them To see that
they are surrounded with all the
means necessary to prosperity,
plenty. and comfort. Many young
man, after making few honest ell
forts to gain livelihood, has been
led into cvil-doing upon the theory
that the world owes him II living.
Again VIZ say that such teaching is
not only false but dangerous.
The world owes us nothing. We
come into the world very much in
debted to il, not only for the pleas
ures and privileges with which we
are surrounded. but Tor the wonder.
full advantages and opportunities
that il affords us for mental, moral,
and physical Development
We are placed in the world with
physical being and Il mind capable
of development and all the condi-
tions necessary to- the development
of both. The great question now
is not what shall others do for us.
but what shall we do for ourselves.
Our parents owe Ills the conditions
and influences To mental. moral and
physical development, but they do
not owe us that development. II lies
not within the power of any person
TO give us strength. II can only
be gained as the result of our own
efforts. The boy who is taught to
take this view of life will not sit
down and wait for his parents or
anyone else to do something for
him. He will proceed TO bring
about those conditions and work
out for himself those results which
he deems necessary for his future
welfare. He will be courageous,
IN anly, and independent. We need
more such boys today. From such
teaching and from such boys have
come the leaders in all lines of
thought and action in the past--the
men whom we delight to style self
made men-and to these we must
look in the future; and when we
saw self.made men we do not mean
necessarily men who have come
from the lap of poverty through
deprivation and physical hardship.
Someone has truthfully said that
"A man who is made at all is self
made" All the moral, mental and
physical strength that he possesses
il the result of his own efforts; and
while il is true that strength sell
dom comes from the lap OF luxury,
yet il does not necessarily follow
that plenty and comfort are hin
ORANGES TO the development of man.
hood. On the contrary boy who
is provided with comfortable
home and ample means for educat-