The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1900-07-04
Boys Best Capital.

! ""'Sh @HC ivy. lI' -l Zlul llHCTIuaU
preached yesterday morning at Christ
Lutheran Church. lie said in part:
"Although boys arc the very salt of
life, and without them life would be
most insipid, nevertheless there are
many who do not look upon them
with very much favor. All some see
in boys is mischief, sorrow and care.
However, the devil sees in boys very
much, and does all in his power to
please them. What boys need is bet
ter treatment from older ones. I'm
fortunately, their rights are frequently
overlooked by those who are their
superiors in years. Some would even
deny the boy and girl their little inno-
cent college song at commencement
time. We must always remember
that boys are boys, and not old men,
and it is foolish to try to put old
mems heads upon the shoulders of
boys; for, were it possible, it would
by no means be desirable. In due
time they will become old, and the
early years are essential for good
old age.
Every boy has an opportunity to
become useful man. Edison, the
inventor, was ncwsboy. Ex-Gov.
David Hill at one time sold papers on
the streets. Whitclaw Reid, at the
head of Il leading New York paper,
knew what it was to cry out "Morn-
ing papers" when boy, for he, too,
was newsboy, and NJ. B. McSweeney,
Governor Of his State, began his career
as newsboy. Don't, therefore, de-
spisc the boy, even though he be of
the humble class, for many such are
our brightest boys, and some day will
be our greatest men. But to become
great men boys need to start out with
spirit of determination to succeed at
any cost. The best capital for boy
is not money, but work. Many boys
are ruined by being pampercd in their
childhood days with too much attcn-
tion. Teach boy to work and not
bring him up in the arms of luxury
and ease, and when he is old, he will
bless those who gave him the good
counsel at time when he, perhaps,
did not appreciate it. A lazy man in
any calling in life in q poor founda-
tion upon which to build in after
years good structure
whatever be the prize in life,
whether ribbon or throne, the
man who would viii it must run alone,
and wise is that boy who will thus
early in life start the race, for as the
twig is bent the tree is Inclined
'The boy needs also to watch the
moulding Of his character. for in his
earlier days his life is very phable
and will shape itself TO the mould be-
fore it. Boys stand at the forkroads
Of life, and according to the path they
travel will determine their future des-
tiny. Every profession offers itself
to the boy. every kind Of occupation;.
in like manner every phase Of vice
and crime, every temptation in its
sugar-coated form presents its.lf, and.
the boy is left to meke for himself
the choice. Tt is within his power to.
decide whether he will be gentleman
Of honor or vagabond ef shame. He
can make of himself either a vessel of
honor or mere whiskey decanter.
"It will always be helpful for boy
TO study the lives Of great men, re-
membering the fact that he, TOO, can
make his life sublime. Study the
history of our great men, and in most
instances you will discover the fact
that at one time in life they were not
only little boys, but very poor boys.
"For the better accomplishments Of
all this, boys have right to make
demands Of others. Boys, like the .
lad of Jonathan who gathered up tho
arrows shot by Jonathan, are watch
ing for arrows, and unless good men.
and women will look out for them in-
terest, the devil will shoot the arrows
and boys will gather them ur.
Parents, Sunday School teachers,
the church and all mankind are shooA-
ing arrows, the influence OF which, will
be found In aftsr years In the lives Of
boys who are gathering them. Like
Lougfellow's ARROW Song long, long
afterward tbs arrow will be foapd in
the life Of boy, but if that arrow be
dipped into some poisonous example,
it will work harm to the boy that finds
it. "-Baaltin,ore AMERICAN.