The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1901-10-24

and perhaps never less apparent imam
in the days of our own stern, self re-
pressive New England ancestors.
Among some uncivilized nations this
gift, or right, as it Is recognized to be,
is bestowed mostly on the boys. To
them 1t is rarely denied even If the
necessities of a stern religion compel
the parent to bind his SON upon the al
tar, as Abraham and many another
loving father has done. This right Of
the child brings others with 1t which
no one questions-the right to food and
care.
1--WE Of New England pride ourselves
on the educational superstructure we
have raised on the foundations so wise
ly laid by our predecessors. But the
South African father, the Malay, the
North American Indian, recognizes as
plainly as we the right of the child to
liberal education. His ideas of edu-
cation may differ from ours, but all he
knows he gives to his boys. Among
many of the very early people the right
of a son to share of his fathers pro-
perty was recognized. Turning to our
selves, what are the undisputed rights
of a boy? According to Massachusetts
laws, the right to life. This is dis
tinct gain, for among many savage
nations and even among the highly CIV
ilized Greeks and Romans, the child
was the property of his parents. The
right to liberty-if Illegally deprived of
liberty he Is taken from his parents
and placed under a wiser guardian.
The right to kind treatment-if treated
with gross and habitual cruelty the
law again steps in. The right to be
taken care of-an abandoned or ne
elected child is placed under the care Of
others than the parents. The right to
an ducation-"every child between the
ages of eight and IA shall annually at
tend for at least 20 weeks some public
school in the city or town where he
resides or be furnished with equivalent
| instruction" The right to a share in
his fathers property, although this is
not an inalienable right, as the father
| can cut his children offbwith or with
| out a shilling, if 1t pleases him to do So
such is the ideal of the Massachu-
sets law and if she often fails to
reach the end in view, is 1t not largely
because so many are constantly COM
ing to her shores who were born and
educated in different chimes? More
sunny, less stern they may be, but
looking backward and not forward,
/ downward and not upward.
What laws, unwritten but not the
less binding, must govern us? Our boys
] do not especially care for our love;
! it comes to them later when they are
| old and we have passed on, that we
did love them and it was precious
possession, But the average boy from
! five to IA does not consider expressions
of love as either necessary or alto
gether helpful to his happiness. He
( would prefer not to be kissed. But he
wants and needs a friend, such
friend as a parent can be and rarely
any one else. And does it not seem
that of the many rights which a boy
undoubtedly has. very high place
f-I.o ~. 4 Foff
full confidence Of his parents and their
loyalty to him? And this not only in
keeping the secrets, even when trifing,
confided to you, but much oftener in
not telling even to intimate friends the
things which the boy would not wish
told.
THE question of feeding a growing
boy is too large one to be entered
upon here in this paper. 1t is ques-
ton just how much we have gained
over the savage mother who satisfies
the healthy hunger of her young brood
with cakes OF meal and water,
Drowned to fine golden on q hot slab
of stone. The child has a right to re-
ceive from the state the best prepara-
ton for future citizenship. Organized
society must supplement the work of
the parents. From earliest infancy he
is surrounded by a thol~and educa-
ciety has prepared for him under the
leadership of religion, music. art and
science.
But whichever view we personally
hold. we shall agree that the theory
of "laissez-faire" applies only in q
very restricted sense to a growing boy
! Undoubtedly, as far as he can choose
wisely, the boy has a right to choose
If he deserves and has fairly earned
punishment, he has a right to receive
: it; he should receive it, If the parents
do not give it to him while he Is under
their care, the state will when 1t may
be too late to be Of especial use to
that individual human soul. If the boy
has done well his good work deserves
hearty recognition, not undue fiattery.
1.-THE boy has a right to work. And
last of all the boy has right to be
lifted up from the common clod to a
purer air and a broader view"