The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1908-07-04
Your BOYS and Girls,

IOur boys anu UlFtss
There is no straighter or surer road
to hell than that which many of the
boys and girls of this city are steadily
following. 1t requires no prophet to
fortell the doom that awaits those
young men and young women who
seek for pleasure on the streets of the
city during the hours when they
should be at home and in their beds.
1t is a notorious and lamentable fact
that girls and boys of tender years do
roam our streets at unseemingly
hours, apparently without parental or
other restraint. Many of these are the
children of respectable parents, who
either do not know, or IL knowing, do
not care, anything about the conduct
and morals of their offspring, or do
not realize the temptations which they
are exposed to when away from home
and out of their sight. Is it any won
der that SO many children and youth
go astray and travel the road that
leads to unhappiness and the eventual
destruction of both body and soul?
There are pitfalls and deadfalls in
Ogden-too many Of them-and too
many immoral and INSCRIPTIONS men
always ON the lookout to lure and
tempt our boys and girls from the
path of virtue and rectitude. There
is no mistake about this. 1t Ia an
incontrovertible fact which parents
and guardians should fully realize,
and take action, If they would save
themselves and their offsprings from
shame and humiliation and reverend
ing sorrow. And these wolves In
sleeps clothing. these moral lepers,
choose darkness rather than light to
ply their infamous callings and tempt
the feet of the needless and unwary.
This is a sad picture, but 1t Is paint
ed every day In this and every other
city in this broad land. Parents, 1t IL
up to you to say whether your chill
dren shall grow up to become good
men and women, or whether they
shall travel the primrose and down
ward path. Nc greater responsibility
could be placed upon you than to
guide your sons and daughters into
paths of virtue. and you will live to
rue it II you shirk the responsibility.
And now a word to the boys and
girls themselves. In the language of
a contemporary In an appeal to the
boys to be decent land the advice APP
plies as we'll to the girls), why not
grow to manhood with honor and
credit instead Of a stain upon your
character? 1t is, just as easy. 1t is
always easier to be man than to be
a rowdy. Cigarettes and gambling
and whisky have had many a wrestle
with boys before you came upon the
scene, and they have never been
thrown. Don't get the idea into your
head that you can turn the trick.
II you don't want to be decent for
yourself, be decent for others. There
10 one heart whose sorrows should APP
peal to you. There is one who faced
everything for your sake; one who
has to bear the cross for your fool
ishness. You don't want your trail
through this world stained with
mothers tears. The boy who turns 9
brazen face to mothers grief never
gets far on the road to happiness
When he gets little older you FIND
his name on the police docket; lit
tie later the dark shadows of stone
walls loom across his pathway. With
out honor. home or friends. the path
way Of the transgressor 10 one o
rocks and thorns. When you bruis'
your feet the world will laugh at yo'
just as you laughed at your mother
appeals. There is only one system 70
boy to follow. Be decent, 1t Away
pays dividends-Ogden State journal