The Newark journal., 1909-03-05
THOUGHT
ON BOYS
By J. S. KIRTLEY, D. D.
Author of the young
Man and HIMSELF" etc.
HIS IMAGINATION

He doesn't lie, he only makes i'm.
ages 7f things he can't see, of things
that do not yet exist. He has that
same power which we all have, only
it is about all he does have, while we
are now In possession of judgment,
at least some OF us are, or are sup
posed to be, reason or some other
faculties that have gotten active
enough to make US forget our magma
tion and in some instances to give up
the image making business altogether
But in boy, the Imagination is
one OF the first faculties on the
ground and Is hard at work when
reason and the will and judgment and
conscience put In an appearance. Up
to that time, 1t works without their
assistance and Is untethered. It fairly
cspers. It romps over the whole
creation
At times, Il makes him seem only a
preeoeious perVerter of truth. but 1t
has never dawned on him that he Is
anything but scientifically accurate.
With that magic wand. he transforms
deserts into gardens. fills his pockets
with gold, beholds cats turn into tigers,
dogs into bears and himself into a
prince with chariots and attendants
and heroic halos, or into any thing else
he pleases. He was, without doubt,
the one who gave points to Ibsen In
the creation of Peer Gynt. Little
Ned's Imagination worked In such dar-
Ing ways that his mother forbade 1t,
like those good men who forbade the
comet from coming near our earth.
One day, in spite of warnings, he
came In with: 20 mamma, I saw a
great, big. black bear out in the or
chard. or course she rebuked him
and then inquired of his older sister
who said, with great contempt IN her
voice: 1T was only little black
Dog, She solemnly took him up
stairs and said: Now, Ned. go into
that room, kneel down and tell God
how naughty you were and ask him
to forgive YOU
He cheerfiifly went in and presently
came out with smiling face. And
did you tell God and ask him to for
give you?" Yes. and mamma. he
said that the first time he saw that
dog he thought it was bear. too"
That was when Ned was very small
before he was eight years old and he
lived IN a world OF make-believe.
He may even go SO far az to trans
form himself into another person
say the king OF England, or Mr. Rookie
chief He and his chum have been
known to exchange personalities In =
way that was quite real. But in play
1t Is one OF the easiest things for him
to become an Indian. When he came
in the other evening from play. NUT.
tering: IS blood have thee, !
finland me, villain,,!" You know
what had been going on.
1t Is a great convenience to his
parents, for he can have the benefit
of boat rides and car rides, within
doors, with the aid OF chairs and
brooms. That Is when he Is very
young. Then when the reason begins
to unfold, he uses 1t with vividness
When his memory Is most active, from
ten to fifteen, 1t urges him on. When
tho social instincts are getting into
control, it makes him a hero wor-
shipper ready for altruistic adventure
and as life looms up mysterious and
fascinating, 1t gives him dreams oil
conquest.
| wonder IL the imagination II not
the connecting link between the con
scious boy and that something else
down in the depths. which is some
times called Inconsistencies! II 30
1t may explain the power OF what Il
also called suggestion. Now. chill
dren," said the dear, unimaginativt
mother, II am going out for the after
noon and don't you go upstairs into the
spare room; and II you do. don't looi
under the bed; and II you look undel
the bed, don't get into that bag o
beans; and II you do, don't put thu
beans in your noses" or course. sh'
had several surgical operations await
Ing her, In getting the beans out o
their noses. mTS. l1diiiOie AuA toiiS v
the speaker talking to Sunday schoo
about the flxativeness Of habits and h
said that II they wrote their names
in the cement sidewalk while 1t wa
soft, the writing would last rs long a
the walks. or course the boys dit
the writing, without any loss OF time
This imagemaking power Is wha
enables the boy. after awhile, t
project himself forward and see "th
moment after the contemplate
deed. restraining him from crime AM
caralessness and urging him to I'm
selfishness.
After serving boyhood in such whole
some fashion. It abldes In manhood t
exercise an enlarged function. Ia trans