Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-07-08

Written fo- The Star
Perhaps-tegan the Married Man--if
parents generally We're more solicitous about
giving their children "A square deal all
round there would he considerably less
complaint to the effect that in these degen-
crate times many, many children seem TO
he density ignorant of the fact that there
is a commandment which runs: Honor
thy father aud thy mother; that thy days
may be long upon the land which the Lord
thy God giveth thee"
Consider old man Sampson. Nice old
man TO meet socially. Fine to do business
with. Charitable and all that. Commands
universal respect. Has everything. seeming
~. in the way of this worlds goods to
make him happy and conteuted. Yet he is
constantly grieving because none of his
children except William seems to have
that deep love and affection for him which
a father is naturally led to look for in his
offspring To him il is m inexpiicable mys-
terry, apparently, yet TO any of his friends
the why and wherefore is as plain as day
itself
The Sampson children are five in number.
the only daughter being the eldest. Will
liam IS the third son in point of years.
Up to the time that he became a member
of the Sampson household. its head did not
seem to lie undu!y partial to one or the
other of his children. But William unwit-
tingly changed completely his proud father 5
attitude. Perhaps it was due to the cir
cumstances that William took after" his
father from babyhood. but whatever the
cause, before Williams legs were free of
long dresses the father had begun planning
To make him the future head of the firm
bearing the Sampson name. He talked free
" about his object in the bosom of his
family. he told William time without num-
Der. in the presence of his brothers. that
la = an no ra
firm and house of Sampson He also gave
his friends and acquaintance the same in
formation; and he not only sent William
through college. by way of prepa ra ton. but
that on a trip around the world that the
young man might be broadened to the great
est possible extent
Prodigal Got the SNAP"
William returned to his home some four
years ago. At that time his Oldest brother
had been in charge of one of the responsible
departments of the family business for a
matter OF a half dozen years. He was skilled
apparently. in the ways of the business to
the smallest detail. but TO matter. The
moment William indicated that he was
ready TO go 10 work at last, he was straight
way taken into the Office as his fathers
right-hand man. y little over a year ago.
when the old gentleman retired from active
participation. William became the active
head, and the eldest son. by way of re-
ward for his years Of faithful service, was
placed In charge OF one of the firms branch
houses at less than one-third the salary
which William receives.
In similar fashion the other boys have
been Shunted aside in Williams interests
The second son was not taken into the
business; he was told that there would be
no room for him when William came in.
He became an architect and thanks to his
innate ability. is making out very we'll in
deed. The youngest son left his books last
month Long ago. he realized that lie could
not hope TO become member of his faith
er's firm. he planned to enter a broker
office in the fall. and in making this de-
ctsiOn did not think IL necessary or ad-
visable To consult with his father. Why
should | trouble him." he said to his sister.
when he is all taken up with William and
his affdirS?''
OF course, the old gentleman can't under
stand, for the life of him. the boys frame
OF mind. As FOR his daughter, ii grieves
him sorely TO have her say two-edged
things about his relations with William as
unappreciative of all that her old father
has done for her. So he goes about declar-
ing that hlial love is not what it In his
day, for of all his offshoOts only William
seems TO be grateful for what has been
done in his behalf.
This business of arbitrarily setting aside
a certain son as successor to the family
business and training him up as such. in
stead of giving each child an equal chance
To prove his worth to the honor. IS working
To keep many a boy from getting the
square deal that is naturally due him.
The Child With "A Career"
Then there Is the son or daughter who