The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-21
Rinns. Double Hero.


 If Hero Hobson had only been wise like Hero Binns of the Republic
 But that is another story.
 Jack Binns was wireless operator on board the White Star liner Republic, that was rammed, mortally wounded and finally sunk by the Florida of the Lloyd Italiano line January 23 near Nan tucket.
 Josted out of his bunk by the collis- sion, Binns jumped to his machine to dis cover that while the mechanism was somewhat crippled, 1t would serve. And there he stood for many weary hours, unprotected from the weather, without food, unruffed by the comnlo- ton that surged about him, piercing the fog with his persistent call for help, establishing communication with land stations and telling the rescuing ships where the Republic lay and her condi- ton.
 Binns was of the stuff of which mar tyrs are made.
 Undoubtedly his marconigrams saved the lives of 1500 peorle. Two ships lay helpless in the fog-the Republics en- zine room filled with water and unable to turn her screws, the Florida, with her smashed bows, fearing to move lest she go under
 Had there been no wireless working these vessels might have lain in that ! fog for days or until they went down, as the Republic did inside of 40 hours.
 Some heroes are not wise after their heroism. They allow an impulsive, but forgetful public to put them on ped estal for the ephemeral worship of an hour.
 Binns is not that kind.
 The happy survivors of the wreck made a festival of thanksgiving at one of the New York theatres, and Binns was there.
 Despite his vigorous protest they dragged him to the stage and eulogized him until he blushed like schoolboy. Then he tore himself from the stage to meet @ new peril.
 A troup of chorus girls behind the scenes clamored to kiss him seriatim, whereupon Binns lost his temper and fled the house.
 He afterward said: '"They tried to make a blamed fool of me-" He said he had only done his duty, what he was paid for and he wanted to go back to his work with the respect of his com rades.
 A two-fold hero-Binns.
 And the later heroism, which led him to decline being made an idol for the gaping crowd, was the greater. Don't ScoId Your Boy.
 "Tell the mothers not to scold their boys. Never in my life did say don't to my children. They were ruled by love and never disappointed me-"
 That is an extract from grand old woman to the writer.
 Why scold the boy?
 To be sure, he Is noisy and sometimes very much in the way. He comes Into the house like whirlwind. throws his cap, maybe, in one corner and his books in another.
 Possibly he sprawls at his meals and A,r- the table, makes faces at his sister, leases the house cat, and is everlastingly in evidence-save when he Is asleep But the boy is built for noise. He is bursting with vitality and must have /n escape valve. He Is in the pro- cess of making himself fit to go up against big obstacles. Out in the world he will need every pound of that surplus vitality. Don't scold him for what he can't help. A noisy, mischievous. forgetful lad is not necessarily a bad boy. Indeed. he is likely to be a better boy at heart than your quiet, self-centered boy. But if you scold the noisy youth you stir up the bad that is in him. It is easy to nag a good natured, hearty boy into sharp retort and rebellion
 There's an easier, better way.
 The boys heart is as tender inside as his manner is rough on the outside.
  this kind of boy. But he is not callous. His father, maybe, cannot get into touch with him because his way Is the boys ways-rough on the outside But you may be sure that under the boys vest is big love for his mother
 The mother has a great advantage. And she should be as careful in hand ling her boy as she was careful in hand ling his father in the old counting days The boys mother should be his sweet heart She should treat him as she treats her lover.
 The mother forgets. She is tired or has a headache. The boy jangles her nerves. She flames up at him. She rumples him. His quick tenn per flies up in self defense. It is soon over. The boy loves his mother just the same. But the whole episode is a mis- erable failure.
 The boys natural disposition to lose his temper has had another push.
 Punish the boy, of course, when nec- essary but do not make yourself and him miserable by nagging him and scold- ing him.
 Remember, he will not be your boy very lorg. He will soon be a bearded man. And you will hold out your arms ;p