Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-22
HOW TO PROPERLY
BRIN UP BOYS
BY MARGARET f. sAvGsTER.

Copyright 1906, by Joseph b. Bowles ,
ID OYS are on the way to be men. II
ID they were to remain boys 1t would
matter very little about their bring
ing up, but the period of boyhood hurries
on and the lad will presently be out in
the thick of the fight scrambling for a foot
hold and having hard work to maintain his
'own among the fierce competitions of the
day What sort of man shall your boy be-
conner
1t is not too much to say that the little
fellow. eager and earnest at his play. fore
shadows the older fellow who will be no
laggard in business and who win find as
much to engage ambition later on as he
finds in sport on the playground now. Some
of coddle our boys too much. Women
are especially in danger of shielding their
boys from every rough wind or treating
them too tenderly and of making them ef
Terminate through their over-anxiety and
continual fussing. Men. on the other hand,
make the mistake of beginning the harden
Ing process too soon, of being too rigid in
their requirements and of forgetting wholly
that they have been boys themselves.
If you want to bring boy up Alright you
must win his confidence, keep in touch
with him. care for the things that please
him and occupy his thoughts, and at the
same time hold him to a right standard of
conduct. Neither too much indulgence on
the one side too much severity on the
other results favorably in the education of
Il boy.
The first years are important beyond
otpers because in them are laid the foun
cations OF character. Truth. honor, obedi-
ence. Kindness to animals and fairness in
intercourse with playmates and friends are
ineulcated while boy is still wearing short
trousers ana while he is under supervision
and tutelage at home and at the primary
school Principles of self-control. of sub
mission 10 authority and of Difference to
women, II not practically given while
boy is very young, are seldom well taught
during adolescence.
After boy has mastered the elementary
studies Of the grammar school ii is time
TO think what shall be done with him In the
matter of active preparation for life. What
is he to be? Here his tastes and capacity
must be consulted. and it is most unwise
Tor parent to arrive at decision without
careful balancing of the arguments pro and
con and without knowledge of the youths
fitness for this or that career. The boy
whose chief delight it is to for wound
ed ard suffering creatures who likes to
fook after the animal that Is hurt, and
who in childhood shows dizziness and dex-
terity In making bandages may have in
him the germs of skill that will by and by
make him surgeon or specialist in some
remedial direction.
Il am goiing to be q DOCTOR" said a bow
who had successfully set the broken leg of
a pet dog, and who found pleasure In min
tstering to any dumb animal that was suf-
n
one. II boy is to be an engineer he
must take a course of study that will fit
him for that profession, and IL he is to be
q lawyer or business man, equally his
studies should be directed in such a way
that he may not fail when he attains an
age to enter on real work.
There are golden opportunities every
where today. Success or failure may de-
pend on the personal equation. The boy
who is first manly and honest and next
capable, prompt and efficient. will achieve
success. He will push forward to the front
rank.
boy of twelve whose home in New Eng
lang is In hill country remote from
village. walked last winter and the winter
before three miles to school over a rough
road and three miles back. Neither storm
nor sleet nor wind nor rain nor weather
of any kind interfered in the least with the
school attendance of this sturdy boy. He
simply took the weather 1t came, and
went to school. Incidentally. he learned
valuable lessons of courage. steadiness and
pluck OF this indifference to conditions.
A boy should have some stake In his
home Country boys who have chores as
they are called, daily tasks In feeding the
farm animals. in bringing home the cows
milking them, chopping wood. wedding gar
dcns and going on errands, have a decided
advantage over city boys who are never