Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1904-10-25
PROBLEM OF THE
WESTERN BOY
Text Of the Paper Delivered Before the Fed
GRAFTON Of Woman's Clubs By Mrs. N.
G. Young, Which Was One Of the Main
Features OF the Meeting

the admiration of the town, but who,
we were sure. had never been the try
ing care to their mother, that were our
children to us, that "every mother
should be able to govern her own chill
dren."
The words sank into my heart like
a Judgment, for felt my own in
capacity and considered them un-
justly hard. Since then and with my
problems largely behind me, have
remembered the saying as the wise
expression Of a great truth. This
truth Of the dominion of woman over
developing childhood, and I wish to
reiterate the truth that every woman,
If she be true to her highest nature,
has dn her the power to govern her
own children. But this involves her
devotion to them. It does not include
such mothers as have seen and whom
you doubtless all know, the mother
who preferred the doing of her own
Homework to the annoyance of a maid,
and who turned her boys and girls
onto the streets to play in the morn
ing with the Injunction that she did
not wish to- see them again until
noon. Such one knew and though
she and her husband were people of
means and of the highest character,
the children were the logical result of
a street Training.
The mother who places anything,
even the care of home above that of
children, is false to her trust It does
not include the woman who, though
dotingly fond of her child, gives them
only the time and attention which are
left her-after all social, domestic
and church duties are done. It does
include those mothers, who, with the
divine mother love in their ?hearts-in
the fear of -conscientiously dedi-
cate themselves-their time and tai
ents to the training of honest, capable,
intelligent citizens, and of immortal
souls. And here let me say word as
to the necessity Of love and wisdom
combined in the mother. The old
fashioned mother was supposed to be
all sentiment. unreasoningly affection
ate and hence, when the idea of just
wise parenthood was to be personified,
the word fatherhood was used-and
when only the emotional, doting fond
ness was intended, the word mother
hood was employed. This in spite of the
many striking examples to the con-
trary, that history has afforded us.
All the wicked, foolish love Of Eli and
David for their sons, and the noble
| self-effacing love of a Hannah or of
Spartan Women. Yet we must con-
cede that there has been much truth
in the distinction and when, with
broadened minds, Women began to use
intelligence and wisdom in their treat
ment of their children, they gave the
cue to many would be humorist, who
has pictured Tor us in frequent tales
and satires the cold, unloving woman,
laborously endeavoring to take a
proper interest in her children, to
rear them by rule, and scientific pre-
scription. That these pictures have
found no real counterpart in life.
know that you will all bear me- wit
ness. This much of truth there is in
the accusation; that many a half-train'
ed and partly educated mother has
taken the "sayso' of some paragraph
or magazine writer and has made her
. child the victim of their extreme ad.
vice as to diet. dress, etc. These fol
lies have been the result of only half
knowledge, not the outcome of TRUE
wisdom. They are the manifestations
of love, with imperfect training.
1. The true mother heart, with it's
wealth Of unselfish dove is still as
much the dover Of woman as it has
ever been. But the true wisdom to
SuAuS SaHI apply ILLS Ii d. y0t, Ous
just coming. Such a union of love
and wisdom will make for intelligent
common sense. 3.
j Then given the mother of education
and devotion to her boy, what will be
i achieved? First the ability on her
part to hold the heart, confidence and
i interests Of the boy, to guide him to
i see the best path for him.. to help
q where help is essential, to leave him
4 to work out his own ends, where that
i is best. q: :.s= zss5 .s... 5=.5 .5ss
She must make his interests hers
q She must make it her study to keep
4 poste wherever lids tendencies run
20 that she can be his counselor, hif
friend. Past training 10 not sufficient
\, for the American boy is progressive
with such mother II seems well nigh
I, impossible that q boy shall go fal
\ astray or miss his best development.
n R,it ny,w ff,r fsf,rt1n r,ractical anDlica