The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1901-04-20
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through the wide open door, it may find
it under the cover of some hidden place.
am not pleading that the boy be allow
ed to be an anarchist in the home, but
1 am pleading for definite and helpful
place for him where his energy will not
be suppressed, but directed. I appre-
ciate that in addition to the boy prob
lem in this City that there is also added
the one of the home. 1 am free to state
that as hopeless as it seems now, that
if We are to solve the problem of boy
hood and girlhood in these Islands in a
permanent way, we must make what in
many instances, particularly among the
Asiatics, are only places Of existence,
these must be made homes Perhaps the
lack of home life in many instances is
the cause of the boys filling the streets
and drifting into ways that will not
make them the truest of men. This very
lack of home life and sympathy is sup
pressing that in him which would make
him a true man.
In illustration of the fact that we try
to suppress the energy of a boy rather
direct it, 1 am reminded of a boy that
once met on a Chicago, Burlington &
Quincy railroad train coming out of St
Louis.
He was a boy with abundant life and
energy. I grew confidential with him
and he with me. In a short time I was
asking him several questions concerning
what he liked and disliked. One ques-
ton I asked him was this, What is said
to you in your home by your parents
and two older sisters of whom you have
told me?" He hung his head for mo-
ment and then looked up with a merry
twinkle in his eye and said, Don't"
How many boys hear tuat word which
ENDS to suppress the boy life more Oft
en- than they hear DO which will be
helpful to both boys and parents?
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL AND PUB
Lie SCHOOL.
The church and its agent, which deals
directly with the boy life, the Sunday
school. is constantly confronted with
this same perpexing question. From the
time the boy leaves his AIts and the
primary department it is a struggle to
hold him. The number of boys in Amer
lea are equal to the number OF girls, but
there are not as many in the American
Sunday School as there are girls. 1 be-
leve in the Sunday school and it's help
full influence on boy life, but 1 do be-
lieve that this influence can be increased
IL home and church are aroused to the
needs. Would it seem sacrilegious for
the Sunday school to touch the side Of
the boy that likes to play? This time
should not be on the Lords Day, but at
some appointed time each week bring
the boys together for an hour or two.
In this playtime find out their likes and
dislikes and make them feel that the
Sunday school wants TO be the boy
friend. Many times people criticize this
method of the Sunday school keeping in
touch with the boy. Why not? Did you
ever hear any one say very much
against the modern Sunday school pic
mic? If a yearly spree Is all right, why
wouldn't a helpful playtime scattered
throughout the year be not only an in
centive to attendance, but be a means OF
helpful companionship between the boys
and the workers in the Sunday school?
AS to the existence of the problem in
the public school, we can only take the
time to affirm it. For the proof we would
refer you to the hundreds and thousands
of teachers. both those who have sue
ceeded and those who have failed in their
dealings with these bundles of abound
ing energy The public school in the
larger centers with it's manual training,
the gymnasium, and other equipments
that touch the boy life have done much
to solve the problem from a very practi-
cal side. I believe that the workers in
/ this City who desire to teach the boys
and help them have learned the lessons
Ol now 10 dllTdGl anu l4tAp the IVY NNAAN
if the cooperation is given will reach
practical results.
! CAUSES.
! 1t is Impossible to analyze the causes
that are responsible for this problem.
These are almost as varied as the homes
where they exist. There are, however
certain existing conditions which may be
directly or Indirectly responsible. In
every city and also in the smaller COM
munities the fathers are growing more
and more immersed in their business
cares and the boys are necessarily re-
moved from direct contact with the fath-
er's life and inspiration. If the boy prom
lem is to be solved to any great degree
the father must be awakened to the
fact that he must at least be acquaint-
ed witn that boy whom he loves.
| Too much praise cannot be given the
mothers to whom the boy has been en-
trusted for training and development
We must recognize, however, that the
tendencies Of the newer civilization are
that the time of the mother Will De
more largely consumed with the home
duties and with social functions, and tna'
We Will be constantly confronted Wltf
new phases of this question. In tnis
connection I want to affirm my oehel
that this problem exists, but not because
the parents do not love their boys. IheS
do love them and In a great majority %
cases would sacrifice their lives for tns
sake Of the boy If 1t became necessary
The direct cause OF this problem, per
haps is an unconscious Indifference e
the nature of boy life and to the neee
which would LEAF to the development o
that life The boy must become den
mite part Of the home, and his likes an.
dislikes must be regarded and directed
These races which have not learned Ut
dignity which the Christ placed upoi
boyhood must be taught by exanpl
that II their children are to be raised U
that level which they certainly oesit
that the boys cannot be constantly neg
lected. By practical example such as
Is the desire of the syorkers TO esta9
lish, we must teach them that the boy
susceptible to higher culture, ana Una
II he Is to honor and respect mat par
ent in after life the home must be some
thing more than a den.
THE ABSOLUTE NEED OF FAIHhf
COUNSEL.
I would not have 1t appear that I an