The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-05-09

Her Boy and the BulIy-Go and DO Like
wise.


Several letters says the outlook have
been received in reply TO the mother VINO
wished to train her boy 10 meet life's.
even boy lifes, experiences in the spirit
of righteousness and peace:
Dear outlook: Being myself the mother
OF a family Of boys. l have been parti-
cularly interested in the letter IN TINS
last weeks Outlook by IT p May give
my experience with my eldest boy VINO
goes 10 school? Like IT. p" he is OF
pcaceable disposition; in fact, as he Is
the eldest. / have always made him feel
that he must be gentle and considerable
Of the Younger ones. TIL he went 10
school. n little over year ago, he had
never played with any other boys eNcep-
his little brothers and occasionally
little friend IN the nursery under my eye
You can imagine my distress when. ai.ef
he had been going 10 school Few weeks
he came home one day looking very
crestfallen. and finally learned from him
the fact that boy In his class had come
up 10 him on his way home and, entirely
unprovoked. had kicked him I'm the shins.
Nv first impulse was TO go TO the teacher
with the matter. but he so begged me
not to put him in the position or tale
teller" that / felt obliged to respect ms
wishes When / asked him what he had
done after being kicked, he said he had
gotten into the car and had come righ-
home. Ny mother. who had two quaker
erandfathers said he did perfectly right
but I felt would rather suspend my
Judgment till his father came home.
somehow ] felt he had not done the Wis
est thing. and 50 agreed heartily with his
father I'm his advice. which was: Never
begin any trouble or fight. but If any
one ever hits you. strike him II he is rs
big as Il lighthouse" His father explain
ed 20 him that DULLES are generally cow
ards So strongly did my husband feel I'm
the matter that the next day he bought
two small pairs Of boXng-gloves for the
two eldest boys and proceeded 10 teach
them how to use their lists. This may
sound very violent and pugnacious but
remember these methods are 20 be used
on the defensive. not the offensive. Wera
society i'm q state OF perfection, there
would be no occasion for such vigorous
measures; but there are always DULLES
among boys. and they must be taught
that peaceabie boys are not towards.
Tn the next encounter my little boy held
his own, and he has not been molested
since.
have I'm mind the case Of a friend OF
mine who saw out OF her window her
only and idoized son. when about eight
years old, being pummeled by boy d
good deal larger lie was doing his best
TO protect himself and finally came off
victor. though considerably the worse
FOR wear. Tn telling me of the occurrence
she said she nearly tainted as she watch
ed the bows. ] consider her self-cOntrol
I'm not interfering, which was her first inn
pulse little short or heroic. She said
she felt that If she had interfered thS
boy would have it all TO go over later.
and I am sure she was right.
When the globe shall be enclrcled with
arbitration treaties. and spirit Of peace
shall permeaie the minds OF the people
which / believe will come some day-then
little boys may not be obliged TO defend
themselves from DULLES; but until tina:
time comes l think the peaceable ones
must learn self-protectlon.
K. W. ID. II.