The Washington times., 1901-10-24
The Woes of the old Foey.


The Woes of the Old FuSy.
One of the discouraRing things about
| being a parent, or an educator or any
| body who has to do with people gener-
alton younger and two generations more
progressive, is that the desires and Of
ten the needs of the new crop OF hu-
manity are so different from those OF
their forbears. The father who has
had to struggle for his education, and
priced every book or bit of instruction
he got, treasures the thought that his
growing son will not have as hard a
time as he had. He saves his money
to provide for the young mans college
course, and makes fine plans for his fu-
ture career. Then the son turns out to
be a born business man, without the
slightest taste for books; or, he likes
the fun of college well enough, but finds
football more TO his taste than Greek;
or he is SO crammed with education
that he gets a distaste for the whole
thing, and reviles his parent for having
taken a course which was mapped out
with the best possible intentions. The
mother struggling through years of
poverty, determines that her daughter
shall not marry poor man; and the
perverse damsel absolutely refuses to
consider an eligible suitor and fixes
her affections on a youth as poor as a
church mouse, with nothing but his per
sonal fascinaticns as his capital. Yet
it may be that the tastes and instincts
of the young people have led them in
exactly the right direction. and that the
parents plans would not have been best
for them after all. 1t is waste of time
to send boy to college if he would rath-
er be drumming for orders or keeping
accounts. Sometimes the friendships
formed in athletic clubs are worth more
than those IF the classroom, and a
healthy body is always worth more
than Greek paradigms if a person can
not have both. While poverty is un-
Pheasant it is certainly possible to en-
dure it, and even to get much comfort
out of it, if the poor persons are young
and strong and philosophical. But all
these considerations do not tighten the
gloom of the disappointed parent or
guardian.
The wise thing for the latter to do
would seer rather difficult TO deter
mine. There are cases in which the
young canrot be safely left to their own
desires. But one rule may be laid down
without question it is folly to prepare
man or woman for any business or pro-
fession for which he or she has a de-
cided distaste. 1t is always better, If
possible, to follow the natural bent
when deciding such questions. Another
important duty is that of sympathy
with all natural and innocent desires
and plans which the young May have.
The mother, father, or teacher who
keeps in touch with the young, who re-
ceiVes the children's confidence without
having to ask for it, and is regarded by
them as a sure and helpful guide, win
not have much trouble in government
But ii should be remembered that in
such relations 1t is not enough TO be
parent; one must be a wise parent in
order TO win respect. Nobody can eX-
pect to be consulted on matters of juris-
prudence who has not studied law. The
woman who is a slovenly or unscientific
housekeeper cannot hope that her
daughter Will look up to her as the per-
fection of neatness, just because there
happens to be relationship. The man
who Is narrow and bigoted crank has
nobody but himself to blame if his sons
go elsewhere for guidance and advice
on matters in which prejudice is harm
ful Children do not lose respect for
the adult who frankly admits that he
does not know everything, but they are
quick TO see the absurdity of the one
who pretends to know more than he
does.