Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-13
FROM BOY To MAN.
IDLER HARPs ON INCIDENTS OF
THIS MARVELLOUS CHANGE.
LIKE TADPOLES TURNED TO FROGS
How We Act When an Earthquake
Occurs-Brave After 1t II Over
What Our Women DO In Market
What Is II They Don't Knowf

The TRANSFORMATION of the tadpole into
the frog IS not more wonderful in my
opln.on than is that metamorphosis
whereby boy is changed into man.
Both processes are truly remarkable and
both involve changes which are almost
incredible. The tadpole. though rather
careless in his habits as a youth, assumes
his responsibility at ono jump as
II were-or. rather, as soon as he and his
tail bid each other adeu-whereas. the
boy dies hard and Is loath to part with
those characteristics which mark HIN as
the most cussed creature on earth. II is
the boys mother who first notes the
blessed transition. AS the years roll
on and her hair assumes the pepper and
salt appearance, she observes, with sigh
OF relief that there are fewer holes to
be mended in the puerile trousers and
that the juvenile footgear is surviving
longer than has been it's wont. Just
about this time the imp of her household
exhibits occasional interest in his per-
sonal appearance, and at times may
even be discovered brushing his hair.
This Is sure sign Of the gradual change
that is 10 follow. Next-and most re-
markable of all-the youth will some
times very occasionally decline Sc
cond slice Of pie or refuse third help
to the tapioca pudding. This symptom
Is always alarming TO mothers and is
invariably misconstrued by them. At
first the good woman every mother is
a good woman, for they are all purged
Of sin I'm the fiery furnace Of maternal
caro- apprehends the approach Of fever
or the germ of some disease, for this
is truly an unusual freak. 1t is months,
aye, years, before she can see her boy
turn down" pie and pudding without
feelings of the utmost trepidation. Long,
long after the lad has grown into
great, strong man she has these irresis-
tible impulses to sweeten his life
with her best preserves or TO stuff him
with the cakes that he never refused as
a child. Perhaps she can never learn
10 realize that the youngster on whom
she built so many hopes Is now a thing
OF the past-of the dead past, that after
all. was sweet.
Thank Heaven that the boys appe-
tite is the last thing to go. He does not
yield II up without reluctance. II fire.
quently escorts him TO the very gates of
maturity before it retreats at the APP
proach of dyspepsia and Indigestion. His
features are well covered with face
foliage and bristling with the lip-hedge
ere he turns his back entirely on this
relic of childhood and even then ii has
spasmodic returns. If evil results follow
from these returns the boys wife is
blamed for It,
II Is q long time. too, before the human
tadpole win abandon his antipathy TO
cats. AS an urchin he has such an evil
reputation with these mezzo-soprano quad
rupeds that they VIII not allow him TO
approach within 40 feet Of their presence.
But what he fails to do for them by ac-
tual contact is accomplished through the
medium Of stone. AT least that Is the
way with Cary-street boys. and these
urchins 1 regard as true representatives
Of tho class of fends to whom 1 allude.
Oft in the Silly night, when the COLA
ton of quicksilver and eggs had failed
10 get in its work upon those insects for
whom IL was prepared. l have lain awake
and listened to the feline anthems rem
dered in ouS neighborhood. But never
has this n,us1c lasted long, for ere many
minutes l have heard the clatter OF
rock and felt the approach Of boy.
Let tbs hour be what il may; let the
night te dark and cold, and let the cat
be wary as she will. but tho urchin will
find her out. At 10 the youngster will
reflect before he goes 500 yards out OF his
way to prosecute his whlskered enemy,
and at II he would not walk a square 10
"sick" dog on the grimalkin, but all
the same the old hatred still remains. At
20, when, with an income of SIS per
1. # 81,
cherishes the vendetta. In fact, il a cat
crosses his path and there Is a stone
within reach, he's mighty apt to throw
il at the animal. At and 20 he may
possibly ignore his enemy altogether,
though the chances are fifty to one that
he'll say "skat" or something equivalent,
which indicates his quondam hatred.
When the puerile imp commences to
brush his hair and polish the toe OF his
boots. YOU can set 1t down that he's in
terested in some glrl-some hoidenish lass
who IS not allowed to receive company,
and who therefore meets her admirers at
the front gate. This girl-who squeals
and eiggles-is a source OF great attrac-
rtion TO him, and in her rude way gives
him his first lessons as q beau. When
| he gets over his bashfulness Ghis is about
| the time he wouldn't walk 900 yards 10
throw at a caO. he complains to his
mother because his shirts aren't well
| laundered and because his pocket-money
| is so limited. The good lady is secretly
amused, and says she wants him TO be a
ladies' man. AS the months roll on,
however. she begins to resent his atten-
lions to her sex, and when the other
women tell her he is engaged to the
squealing girl who used to receive at
the gate, she feels secret dislike for