The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-10-09
Trials Of Boys Between Il and
18-Mothers Comprehend aud
Befriend, While Fathers Usr-:#
ally CriticiscSig Of Dawn
ing Manhood Encourage.
Friendship Between Boys and
Girls.
By@Margaret E. Sangster..

Copyright, 1901, by Joseph 3. Bowles.l
Few boys escape the trials OF the nwk-
ward age as dlsagreeable to themselves
as it is provoking to their neghbors.
Between IL and Is most boys have a
hard time OF IT, and II they could choose
would not In the least object to life on q
desert island instead OF life at home I'M
der a hot fire Of exaspcrating criticism.
# Mabel at IL Is her fathers pet and dar-
ling. Her mothers pride In her daughter
now expands trif1e as ahe realizes how
beautiful the child is going to DO q rev.
years hence. Mabel's legs may be long
her neck thin. her general air lean and
overgrow1l, but she is like a thorou 8 n pred
colt, and suggests triunphal possibilitle
later in her career. Everybody pets the
young girl Everybody extends her a
helping hand. Every advantage is hers,
and she flourishes in an atmosphere sweet
with affection and stimulating with praise.
But Hugh has different experience.
Ills hands and feet at certain stage are
grotesquely out If proportion TO the res
Of him, and he hears SO mncn on me
subject that 1t makes him self-conscious
and clumsy. 5f.t5 Z
His shoes are thick and he clumps about
on them with the tread OF an elephant.
g.. IIc has not yet sighted the spot where
neatness Is of Importance IN his eyes, ana
he despises girls and keeps out Of their
way. AS for his hands, they are SO grup-
bythat soap and water make but slisnt
IMPRESSION on them. All the dirt that
has accumulated since tho boys curls
were cut OF and he stopped wearing en- a,l
ibroideredp collars seems ground INTO inc
hands ola boy Of IL, S5
~ With an intense desire that his son
should he manly, Hugh's father too often
adopts fashion of starnness IN his m
tercourse with the lad.
He calls him sir and brings MN up WIN
a round turn In the presence OF thetfamily.
The slightest forgetfulness, tho smallest
fault of boy Is visited on him by his
ia Tier Wit, instant reproof. while the
very same error committed by the boys
sister is at once condoned by the same
father often In the same hou
a boys best friend, he fancles mrs only
friend, at this crisis Is his mother.
She rejects that ne Is undergoing q
transition, and that transitions are always
trying. She slips UP to ms room az nlsH,,
her soft arm gently steals under me-
shaggy head and she talks TO MN ABOUT
his days work. about his school, MS plans
ana his fun, Mother does not laugh when
Hugh conf1des to her that the club ne
keeps under his bed Is intended Tor outr-
glars or IndIans; she encourages him N
the hope that when no has grown y W
he may be a fighting man, v ne wants
to, them !. y, =
Mother conprehends that the clustering
egotisn which sits so dehantly on her
growing lad rs nothing but phase, tnas
It is the natural outcome OF the PERIOD ana
in itself q token OF dawnlng man lloou,
she develops this excellent duality along
right lines, when she takes the boy VIII
her as her evening escort and mates
point OF introducing him TO her frlenas..
Mother takes as much pains % nave
TIugh's room attractive and beautiful as
she does to ut up a little White nest for
Mabel. Tho boys den must be- 9 retuge
| for him, and he should have. liberty 70
Invite his friends there ut his VIII. 5000
mothers know this, ana they are nice 20 g
Hugh's friends, Y
The chrysalls Of thu awkward age>faills
off after awhile. It's succeeded by alh V
age Of extreme anxiety on the. subject oI
stockings and neckties cuffs and collars
The boy cares about his clothes, ana PC.
gins to have opinions about their cut
ana color. No more worry oyes his l1anus
ard tinger-nails now, They are immacu-
late. and as for bathing'55 he almost lives
lii the tub. ~
Mabel smiles. There is q girl across the
way, and Mabel sees that Hugh y much
impressed With the girls good Looks, with