Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1898-09-07
VILLAGE Improvement.


niles in Marietta whose chief business
in life is to furnish problems to be
solved by their elders, problems upon
whose solution depends the future
welfare not only of the children but Of
the community at large.
There is little danger that the ave-
rage child will not be taught the ma
jor points of the decalogue, either
from sense of religious duty or, set
ting aside religion, from a desire
more or less pronounced, of promot-
ing good citizenship.
But there are some practical appli-
cations of these lawswhich are well
nigh lost sight Of A lady, living in
a well-esteemed portion of this town,
said the other day, with considerable
emphasis, II wish something could be
done to teach the children proper
respect for the property of Others"
The boy Cor sometimes, alas, the
girl) who would not for a moment
dream of putting his fingers into your
pocket book, had he ever so good an
opportunity, will fly over your alley
fence, if you have one, and help him
self to your fruit, or dash up your ter
race and pluck your flowers. He will
steal your peace of mind, and damage
your we'll kept yard-or at least the
yard you try to have we'll kept-by
his games which his mind Imperative
ly require a frequent rush thro' your
premises. If you pleasantly remon-
strate, he will usually respond with a
CHEEKY "all right" and dash off to re-
peat the performance elsewhere.
1t is really serious matter, this
petty thieving-one does not like to
call it SO, but that is it's true name
serious both in it's present and future
aspects. Not every child, by any
means, now included in this condem-
nation will land behind prison bars,
but it is morally certain that some of
them will who might have been saved |
bad they been taught a puritanical
regard for the rights in property
whether large or small,
Perhaps some OF our happy citizens
know little or nothing of these mat
ters, but at least large large min
ority will give fervent assent to the
charges preferred.
Another annoying nuisance is the
waste paper deluge
The neighborhood of some of the
uptown stores may be known with
out other sign, by the banana skins,
paper bags, wrapping papers, etc.
which decorate the sidewalk, street,
and adjacent private yards. Since in
these days the writing tablet and lead !
pencil have SO far superseded the old |
time slate in the school room, the !
written exercise does its full share in |
promoting the waste paper nuisance. ,
But the children must not be held |
wholly responsible, for some of the ,
grown ups evidently failed of proper I
training in this respect in their youth.
What can be done2 Well that't a
problem for your solving, dear parent,
or perchance for yours, dear, patient,
already overburdened, teacher, for our
little men and women spend many Of
their working hours IN your society
and your influence is, or may be, very
potent with them.
If the decalogue is not already suf-
ficient, and if the children are not al
ready organized" to distraction. per-
haps a Golden Rule Club" might
serve as basis for operations on
some OF these lines. They like orga-
nization and a club badge is a thing
proudly worn.
There is said to be honor among
thieves; that may be true or it may be
not, but there is certainly honor
among children and the skillful hand |
will bring it to light in the worst spe-
cimen of childhood. II a public spirit