The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-01-12


Editor Morning News: Your article on
"Our Boys" in your Sunday ISSUE was
to the point, and full of sound practical
common sense. 1t is to be hoped that
the boys and young men of the city read
it, and that the fathers and mothers read
it and took it to heart The raising Of a
boy is real science, and it takes a father
and mother of brains to know how to
raise children; by that / mean how to
rear their children as to mentality, tenn
permanent, natural disposition, and apti-
tudes for this that, and the other thing.
As noted writer said in speaking of ed
ucating boys at college, "the professors
were failures, and they sent out failures, "
or in other words, the professors heard
lessons but really taught the boys moth
ing No doubt he was writing of his
college days. The first great duty Of par
ents is to study their children, and not
leave it for school teachers to do, as many
imagine that their peculiar duty. Teach
ers hear lessons only and have their
school discipline, but have nothing to do
with home discipline morals or affairs.
Every one has more or less of genius or
talent for something, and the secret of
all education at home and at school, is
to find out what a boy is really fit for.
Precosity in children leave no room for
doubt as to what their mental tastes lead
them. But il is to the slow, Flooding, de-
veloping mind, which needs an eXplana-
ton and illustration al every step. To
teach such minds how to think, is the
real science of teaching and developing
the slow maturing mind. Minds like an
apple or peach orchard, do not ripen all
at the same time; for the best fruit nine
times out Of ten natures late. The dull
boy at school may be very bright mind
at 30 or 40, which / have often seen. Mere
memory is not talent or genius, and is no
test of originality or mental resources
The more one absorbs the ideas of an
other, the less originality he has. Genius
is not an absorber, but a creator; talent
is assimilatiVe, digestive and an absorber
takes in readily and quickly the thoughts
of others, and uses them. Great talent is
a half-brother to genius, the same father,
but not the same mother
As you said in your editorial about the
boy who said "Well, I've got job, but
it does not pay much, and | guess l will
give il up" there were several things to
take into consideration as TO his mind.
The first and most important is: Did he
have an aptitude, taste or talent for his
Job or business. A most important point
with him. If not, his life would be
failure sure. Second, did the boy have
any real ambition in him, any get up In
his mental composition? If not, he is
failure. for ambition is the mighty drv-
ing wheel in ones mentality. Third, did
he have that organ of the brain called
continuity, sticking to, holding on dis
position, a determination to master his
business. If not, he is like log at sea,
of no use to himself or the waves or
which he Is but a plaything, or in palmer
words, a mere hoater on the business
sea of life, unreliable, unstable and really
useless. Will never support himself or
any one else, and II unfortunately he has
bad habits, the grave is the very best
place for him, and the sooner he goes the
better for himself and the world at large.
A young man or boy should make a
study of themselves; find out whether
they are blessed with the one, two or
five talents and adjust themselves ac-
cording. Half the failures of life are In
undertaking to do that for which one has
no talent Many times forced into a bus
mess through the influence Of father or
surroundings which Is to them distaste
full. A boy or young man of decided me-
chanical taste has no business behind
dry goods counter. The bookish mind,
fond Of argument, analysis and logic, has
no business on a farm. The boy whose
brain Is all the time at work on per cent,
buying or selling. has no business with
law books Let parents study their boys,
and let the boy study himself alsos Then
when he has made up his mind to do any
thing, stick to Il with determination
that means TO conquer. Call industry to
his aid, lean on perseverance, grasp res
olution, and do not be afraid of throwing
Off too much perspration in his labors.
Success with such young men is sure.
How often have / heard the expression:
II missed my proper calling in life; I
was not cut out for this business ! am
in" The man who loves his business, 50
to speak. takes a pride in II, throws his
whole soul into It, will be a frst-class
man. r. NJ. o.