The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1904-06-02
OBSERV ATIONS! II
BY S. D..

III
A most grave and momentous prob
lem in this country is the steadily in
creasing number of youthful despera-
does. Almost every day we read of
boys of IA, is or Is years of age emu
lating the deeds of Jesse James and
Tracy, perpetrating crimes so atrocious
that the denizens Of the neither world
might envy them. When in this twen-
tieth century of Christian enIighten-
ment, with schools and churches scat 5
tered broadcast over the land, when
week after week we read of youths
| charged with crimes which even hard
ened criminals would blush to own,
should not the most optimistic enter
tain sad thoughts as to the future of
his country?
| AS no effect is without cause, we
may infer that in the policy of this ma
ton, either scholastic, paternal or gov
ernmental, there is some part of the
machinery at fault. 1t is possible all
three departments are wrong. Ameri-
ca is justly proud of her institutions of
learning. From the primary school to-
the university, they are unsurpassed.
American homes are ideal, homess
homes where the virtues and graces
abide; homes which are influencing the
world. Yet both in schools and homes
the essential quality Of strong charac--
ter is neglected. Obedience is ignored.
The fifth commandment seems strick-
en- from the American decaIogue. An
American child learns at an early age
that if he insists, he will have his owns
way at home. As he grows older his
{ will becomes more domineering, and.
! when he reaches his teens, he is law
unto himself. To certain extent.
the same evil exists in the schools.
Owing to the pronounced views of lib
erty and equality held by parents.
teachers find it difficult to enforce
obedience. Solomon's injunction to.
I parents and guardians is prohibited;,
should teacher attempt to act upon it,.
he would either be prosecuted or would
be victim of assault and battery.
Ask an officer of the army or navy how
: Americans stand the obedience test,
4 and he will tell you that two-thirds of
! the assertions are caused by spirit Of
) disobedience SO it is safe to say that
one cause of youthful crime is diso-
bedience, for disobedient, self-willed
. boy is very likely to become a man
o that will ignore the laws of his coun-
try.
: Further, at the most important epoch
! of their lives-when they are between
10 and IA years of. age--many boys are
u almost "nobody's children" The
', mothers time is so taken up with their
g different clubs and associations, that
:. they find no time to instruct their sons.
In the evening after supper the boy is
often looked upon at home as nui-
% sance. This is particularly true if his
u older sister wishes to entertain friends
lie in the house. He is too noisy and full
of animal spirits. He is not.wanted at
home, so he naturally takes to the
streets, where he is to be seen with g.
y dozen others playing practical jokes,
at hearing and seeing things that are UNI
id wholesome, hanging about until late at
10 night, and finally becoming genuine
- hoodlum.
er Then there is the yellow literature.
t There is no power on earth so potent
- in forming character as the books we
read. And when the mind is plastic
u. and the Imagination vivid, when fancy
ne takes reason captive, then the evil in
j. fluence of bad book is tremendous.
nr The number of boys ruined by the in
!. fuence of evil books is beyond compu-
= tation. Hundreds of young men have
OF ended in prison by trying to follow the
ne lessons learned in novels of the Nick
a. Carter and Jesse James type.
10 Parents should realize that their
ne paramount duty lies in the home, in
the work of training and guiding the
soul of which God has made them stew
ards. They should require and enforce
obedience, remembering that che that
knows not how to obey, knows not how
a to rule" They should make the home
,ly attractive to their boys, keeping them
til off the streets. They should take an in
as terest in the sports of the boys and
ne above all should supervise their read
It. ing matter. Within reasonable bounds,
to teachers should have authority to en-
,se force obedience. The youth will only
- u L>Ak r..