Virginia citizen. (Irvington, Va.) 1891-1921, 1906-12-14

must wear rubbers. Charley. you are
out too late at night and you do not
get enough sleep?" Are your mothers
and fathers speaking 10 you thus be-
cause they are narrow minded and
stupid? Is IL because they want to
rob you of the pleasures OF life? oh,
no. You know that is not true. The
reason they are so careful about your
physical health is because they may
not have been brought up 10 care for
their bodies rs they should have done
When they were young perhaps their
mothers fed them upon hot pastries
Perhaps they were allowed to eat be-
tween meals and at all hours. The
result OF their bringing up is that
they have become confirmed dyspep-
tics or nervous wrecks. They know
only too well that when the physical
health is once destroyed 1t cannot be
restored. Therefore they want to save
you from the mistakes they or some Of
their friends have made. Young peo-
pie, are you willing to honor your par
ents by following their advice in ref
erence to your physical health? Are
you in your youth, the most critical
time OF your lives, willing to let your
parents guide you and teach you how
to live In order that long life might
be yours?
Halted Careers.
Oh, the tragedy of the wrecked hu-
man framel How they call halt to
mighty careers Of earthly infuencesi
Would you like to know what is one
OF the saddest sights to me7 1t is not
to see baby die. 1t Is not to see an
old man die. IT Is to see a young man
come up to thirty or forty years of age
after years and years OF work, come
to the time when success is about to
be his, and see the death sweat upon
that young mans brow or see his trem-
bling hand fall back upon the invalid's
coverlet and know that he has wasted
his physical manhood at the altar of
pleasure or at the students desk and
know that his physical health can new
er be brought back. There Is hardly n
tragedy like it. Many years ago the
rats gnawed through the water casks
OF the good ship Sarmiento, bound for
California. Nearly all the ships water
was lost. On board that vessel were
many miners seeking the western gold
fields. Two casks alone were left to
quench the thirst Of hundreds. At that
time the vessel was n thousand miles
from the nearest port of San Bias riv-
er, where fresh water could be obtain
ed. The two remaining casks were
brought on deck and a guard placed
over them day and night that the wa
ter might not be wasted Then two
thirds OF a pint of water was given
TO each man daily-no more, no less.
Slowly the ship sailed on. In that hot
climate the fever burned, and the pas
sengers were almost mad
One day a man said to party of
men, among whom stood young fell
low who afterward told me the Incl
dent: IL am dying of thirst I must
have some water. / will give dollar
to any one who will give me half n
pint OF water to drink" No answer.
No one moved. 81 will give s. TO any
one who will sell me some water"
No answer. No one moved. Then he
took twenty dollar gold piece out OF
his pocket. and he said: 81 am dying
or thirst. | must have water. I will
give 500 to any one who will give me
just little water TO drink" No an
swer. No one moved. Then, with an
oath. he threw the gold coin upon the
deck as he said: what is the good OF
1t? 1t will not buy me even one little
drink" You say that Is tragic? Yes.
but Ii Is not nearly so tragic to me
as to see boys and girls squandering
their health and vital powers I'm dis
regard OF the advice of their parents
In reference 10 their physical health
Then just mt the time when they
ought really 10 begin to live they are
about TO die. Then they come forth
with the pale. wan cheeks OF death or
OF helpless invalidism and say: Here.
Lord. is my money; here Is my fame.
Give me back my health" "No," says
God. NO. No. commanded thee to
obey thy father and mother. They
told you how you should care for your
body. You have refused TO follow their
advice. You must die" oh. my young
friends, will you honor your father
and your mother by needing their
warnings that your days may be long
upon the land which the Lord thy
God giveth you?
Conf1dinE In Parents.
The next important step for young
people to heed In order that a long
earthly life may be theirs Is to give
their parents Sheir confidence In refer
ence to the companions whom they are
making their daily associates. You
should not only Ia coda,e these friends
10 your fathers AMI mothers, but you
should tell your parents their true ma
lures, and you should tell your parents
their bad characteristics as we'll rs
their good. Then. IL your father or
mother advise ~ not to associate with
this boy or tliat girl or this young man
or that young woman. you should obey
their wishes. They know best. Mark
me, if you will make friends of the
young people your parents wish YOU to
go with and no others, a pure life,
good and noble life, is almost certain
to be yours. Furthermore, mark me
also in this, IL son Of Christian par
ents will persist in associating with
those companions whom his father or
mother disapprove in the end that boy
VIII turn out badly. He will do this in
physical and moral and a spiritual
sense. There is hardly any exception
to the rule.
Let me drive this truth little fur
Their home. What is the matter with
John OwensY" ] ask. "You know him
we'll He lives on the same block. He
mas good father and mother. A few
years ago he was one OF the brightest,
happiest boys in the neighborhood. His
eyes were always dancing and full of
run. He was always a leader in your
sports. No laugh was merrier than his