Mesa free press. [volume] (Mesa, Ariz.) 1892-1901, 1898-08-05

Parents Should Make Good naericans
Of Their Girla and Rova

Parents Should Make Good Am orleans
of Their Girls and Boys.
A patriotic American living in Lon
don took fire during the early weeks
Of war excitement over the Maine dis
aster. He longed to return at once to
his own country where he could breathe
his native air, talk with his own peo-
pie and be ready, IL there were need,
to fight for his Gag.
II can do nothing where l amv' he
exclaimed, at his breakfast-table, II
am chained here hand and foot by my
business, and can do nothing for my
own country except to read the dis
patches in the morning newspapers"
why not try to make a good Ameri-
can of me3" piped up a small voice at
the side Of the table. II am going every
day to an English school where / never
hear a word about American history.
You know great deal about 1t.
wish that you would teach me some of
the things an American boy ought to
know"
The father was busy man who had
little time for lessons in American his
tory. His 11-year-old boys appeal
touched him. The lad was learning at
school facts and dates about English
history, but nothing about America.
"There IL something in what you
say" he replied. IF cannot do any.
thing else for my country in this excit.
Ing time, can at least try to make an
American Of YOU"
So household course In American
history was opened. One hour every
week was devoted to the lesson. There
was Q long talk by the father with a
carefully dictated summary at the
close, which the boy learned and re-
cited the following week, answering
such questions as were put to him.
The course began with the early his
tory Of the thirteen colonies and the
causes Of the American Revolution.
The military campaign from Lexington
to Yorktown followed, with the max
Ing Of the Constitution, the Federalist
administrations of Washington and
Adams, Jefferson's purchase Of Louis
lana, the War of 1912, the Monroe Doc
trine, the Missouri Compromise and the
other great events Of American his
tory In regular order.
The father knew his subject, and sue
ceeded In making it interesting to the
boy. It was not dry recital Of facts,
but well-informed record of men and
events adapted to the intelligence of
the child, and illuminated with anec-
dotes.
The boy considered 1t the most de-
lightful hour Of the week, and his les
son was always carefully prepared
The father had never before attempted
to teach his child anything but man.
ners and obedience, and he enjoyed
the work fully as much as his pupil.
Aa also had The aeemfort Of thinking
that while he was compelled to live out
+ of his country, he was helping to make
an American Of his boy.
Many American fathers have great
store Of XII edge concerning national
history al t6litics, which they could
easily sha @i@ their children, II they
would take the time and trouble re-
quired. ~ r " ~
No boy is ever likely to forget what
his father teaches him with regularity
ar Silence, and American history is
Eonespf the most interesting and impor-
tant among home studies, We cannot
all fight the nation titles but many
Of us by earnest effort can make good
Americans Of our boyS Ind girls
Youths Companion.