The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1904-11-06

luc tWllcIuSk " ilch sb
GSSEEEJ boy shall have a lntch-key.
Really the question concerns his
going out or staying III after supper.
The home privileges Of our sons be-
tween sixteen and twenty.one-wha
sfalls they be? How much liberty shall
We give them? How tightly Shall we
draw the reins? When shall we cease
giving orders and content ourselves with
suggestions? When receive the boy as
iii some sense an equal.
home, IL real home where Il boy Is
at ease and to which lie turing with de-
light Is not a pcnitcntiary, nor q place
of confinement 1t is u place OF liberty,
such liberty as Is safcguarded and pro-
tectcd BY common sense and parental
love. It Is a place where there arc
laws. but they do not rcpress liberty,
being accepted and obeycd automatically
as all good citizens obey the ten COM
inandmehts.
When a boy has been reared In an at
mospherc OF harsliness, when authority
has made itself odous or when his home
Is dull and gloomy, his natural Impulse
Will be to escape from 1t as soon as
possible. know houses where the boys
slip out into the street the moment sup
per is over The company of father or
mother does not interest them. They
regard home as only q convenient resort
for eating and sleeping. Often they give
no account OF their dongs once beyond
the home doors, but there are those
outside who could, II they chose. furnish
full reports Of the companions and places
which allure the lads to their hurt and
the injury of their reputation.
A responsible boy. who has nothing to
conceal. may safely be trusted with a.
latch-kcy on the assumption that unless
there is special reason to the contrary
he will BIO in at IN. The key should be
as much his own as his fathers Key is
his. But II the mother has retired the
boy may pause at her bed room and bid
her good might. Mothers like to be as
sured that their sons are safe indoors
before it is too late.
Nothing is worse for boys character
and tempe than inccssnnt nagging. The
mother who nags may drive her boy far;
on the road to perdition. What Harriet
Alartjneau said OF servants may well be
applied to the management of boys.
Never nag, but when necessary come
down on lnCm like the day Of judgment.
a boy understands and does not resent
condem nation for faultEif he deserve
1t, but perpetual small criticism, con-
tinuai suspicion and a patter Of inquis-
tive remarks, often before the public.
are like hailstones OH the boys cona-
dencc, and crush 1t hopeleasly. Trust
your boy. it is his privilege. Do not ex-
press or insinuate doubt OF his word
once given or his statements once made.
Another privilege Of the boy in the
home is to invite his friends to his room,
and there should be permission within
bounds for them to make n noise. Youth
is apt to be trifle bolsterous. II the
boys laugh and shout and wrestle and
do stunts Of one. kind or another there
is no harm, SO Yong as they are not rails
ing the ROOF or knocking down the ceiling.
A boys comrades should not prowl
around at the back OF the barn or whistle
for him at the street corner, or lie In
wait to join him In an alley or court.
They should march boldly to the front
door, be acquainted with his father and
his people and be on good terms with his
neighbors. a
a privilege priced by most boys IS
connected with their dress. Every fellow
cannot dress we'll, and no fellow should
be tricked out like popinjay. But as
a rule a boy feels more sclf-respcct II
he is well than IL he is Ill dressed, and
when parents can afford it they Should
provide ..elr sons with the appropriate
costume for such functions as youths
attend. For everyday wear boys
clothing must be stout and serviceable;
u boy ..goes through his clothes fast" II
they are not Of excellent stuff. AS to
color, the darker the better. For church
and visiting a best suit should be In re
serve, and a lad from fifteen to twenty
cannot begin as he ought his incursions
into society unless he have dinner coat
He requires this to make the appropriate
toilet when he calls on a girl friend,
some other boys sister, or. when he goes
has II pleasant time with girls ofashls
own station. 1t should be his privilege
to associate with girls without foolish
comment about sweethearts and the pre-
mature forcing Of sentiment5gthat silly
mothers foster by indlscreet opposition
to the wholesome instincts of the boy
who IS socially Inclined
Yet another home privilege OF the boy
is to have q little money in his pocket.
Not to have a cent Of ones own is q.
great trial to a boy. He shotld either
have the opportunity to earn some money,
by odd jobs or chores, using the lawn
mower in summer and the snow shovel
In winter. and caring for the furnace
his father paying him something for the
work, or he should have regularly paid
allowance. Sporadic gifts and the un-
checked liberty to spend money for soda
water theatre tickets and other indul-
gences ruin boy, and many boys are
irretrlevably harmed body and soul, by
too much money, given them heedlessly by
minimizing parents. A boy, rich mans
son or poor man's. should have thespriv-
ilege of little money in hand, but he
should also be expected to keep a strict
account of what he spends and Ashould
learn that money is a factor in honorable
living, and not a thing TO be either hoard
ed or wasted.
Bringing up, boys is not the easiest
task ii, tho world, but few other tasks
are so remuneratiye. The sons carry
into the world the traditions of the home
life; they form their ideals there I y
youth must early leave home and 90 to
business. being thrown on his mettle and
meeting many temptations, 1t Is a fine
thing for him to have In nemory's hack
ground homo that vas not wearisome,
nor monotonous. nor incumbered with
restraint-a home sweet with love and
rich in privileges.
Copyright, 1904, by Joseph 3. BoWles)
FEW NEGROES THERE.
Eleven Were Cornered Off by