Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-02-20
DON'T BE TOUGH.

The following from the pen nt T.
y. EmmonS appears in recent issue
lie Washington Republican. 1t
should be read by every boy in the
land. and many old boys might profit
by it:
Boys, if you think il is just the
thing to be a little tough you are Off
Toughs are not in demand. and if you
do not understand the fact look
around little. Is it the tough fell
low who has the nice situation? OR is
it the square, true. steady chap, who
never puts his hat on the back of his
head, pull his foretop front and chews
the end OF a twocer? There comes a
day to any careless young man when
he wants to get out of the tough
groove in which he has been travelling.
but where is there a place for
him? He longs for place where the
restraining hand of some superior
power can lift him upon a higher
plane of life and guide his Maynard
feet upward into smoother way. lie
attempts through the pure air and
freedom of temptation afforded by
farm life to pull loose from the old
ways, but even there his tough pro-
clivities chase him and he is not long
wanted there. He may place himself
in the regular army, to be used as a
machine by his superiors in the vain
hope that they may control hiszhabits
and make a man of him, but even
then the tough side is liable to come
- 7 IL, e., L.
better life to fade like the dew. The
pretty smile of sowing wild oats" is
Il deluSion, Il snare, Il confidence game.
If you SOW wild oats, you ought to
have sense enough to know what you
will reap. 1t is an easy matter TO
scatter the seeds of noxiGuS weeds.
put how about cleaning up the ground
where they fell. You may even cut
the weeds down out of sight and plow
up the ground-put on the garb and
appearance of Il gentleman, and even
attempt to live One-but still the
germs will spring into life at the APP
pointed season, and there you go, as
tough as ever 1t doesn't pay to get
tile idea that you can be tough or
straight ut will. If you are tough for
d little while, and only what you con-
slider little tough, the circumstance
viii be remembered against you, and
even though you have quite out lived
and subdued such inclinations. care
full people will be afraid of you. They
can't help it. There is not boy in
all the families of Washington who
does not hope some day to be respect
ed and trusted: if there is, God pity
him. But let me tell you boys, if you
are Il little tough now, and do not i'm
mediately cut loose from tough habits
and associates, you are in 4 fair way
to have something to regret all the
days of your life. If you think you
can safely put in your evenings play
ing cards, telling smutty stories. fight
ing chickens, or in other questionable
amusementS, while your parents
think you are out with the other good
boys studying your lessons, you are
chasing up a dangerous delusion. Do
you suppose you can beer up occasion
ally and come out as clean as before?
Don't you believe it. No odds if you
do go Hanover. or Greenleaf. or get
the booze on the quiet from John or
Nat, or chip in for pony. You can't
afford it boys. and you who are not in
it keep clean. be square. 1t is the
biggest Investment you can make. If
you ever want to do anything, be any
thing, or have any life that you can
enjoy, or that is worthy of you, don't
be tough.