Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1910-07-30
The Ideal Boy.

|
We are all acquainted with the ideal
lgirl. II we are not, it is our own fault.
Most Of our popular papers and maga-
zines are continually publishing articles
entitled Hints for Girls" "What a
Girl Should Learn, !" ''How Girls Should
Behave" In these little homilies-
chiefly written by men. believe-the
ideal is portrayed inglowing colors. She
possesses every attraction Of body. mind
and soul. We are most grateful for the
suggestions. We are desirous to inn
prove. We heartily welcome all "hints"
and "helps" that are really such, but
we miss the ideal boy. He has certain
ly been grievously neglected. We
have carefully perused many paper,
only to find him tucked away into
obscure corners. "few and far be-
tween" 1t is in view of this strange
oversight that we offer the following
suggestions
In the first place. the ideal boy is
boy: not girl-boy, nor fop, nor prig.
but genuine boy, as nature intended
him to be. He is full of animal spirits
overaowing with fun, realizing as no
one else can intense delight of living.
He exults in his height and weight.
proudly exhibits his muscle to admiring
friends, glories in the size of his feet.
He knows how to swim and row, he can
hunt and fish; he runs and jumps like an
athlete, and understands tennis and
base ball.
In the second place, the ideal boy
is manly boy. He scorns to do a
mean thing. He does not think it neces-
sary to manliness to smoke and chew
tobacco. He does not use language
that he would rather his mother should
not hear He never sees the fun in
tormenting helpless animal or little
child. He is a champion Of the poor
oppressed everywhere. Like brave Sir
Galahad,
| His strength is as the strength Of ten
| Because his heart is pure.
The ideal boy is polite boy, if it is
true that
"Politeness Is TO do and say
The kindest things in the kindest way"
He may have learned few rules of
etiquette, but he shows kind and un-
selfish nature, which is the basis Of all.
His behavior at home would grace the
grandest reception. He does not take
off his manners with his Sunday coat.
and he never speaks to his mother in
any but respectful way. He is kind
obliging and always ready to do favor,
as his neighbors very well know.
The ideal boy is not wise in his own
conceit. He does not for moment sup
pose that his knowledge exceeds that of
his father, grandfather, teacher and the
whole world put together, nor does he
imagine that all wisdom will die with
him. He realizes that he has great
deal to learn. and then sets about learn
ing it. He keeps up with the times.
He asks questions about what he does
not understand. He finds out that he
can learn something from everybody and
everything. He knows how to choose
the wheat and reject the chaff. BY
reading, study. and intercourse with the
wise and good. his thoughts broaden and
widen like mighty river. His mind
becomes rich storehouse Conformation
to prove invaluable in after life.
Finally, the ideal boy is boy with
an aim. He means to make the most
of himself. Whatever he does is done
as well as he can do it, whether it be
translating Homer and Virgil, sweeping
out an office, or selling goods at the
counter. He cultivates business habits
of exactness. frugality. order, ,punctuali-
lty. 1t does not take the united efforts
of mother and sister to get him started
to school in time. He begins at the
bottom of the ladder, as all great men
have done before him, but he does not
STAY there. He knows that there is
plenty of room at the top. and he means
to get there sometime. Meanwhile, in
stead of waiting for ''lucky chance"
he begins to climb the rounds, one by
one. He means business.
Such is the ideal boy. Would that
there were more like him. As the hoy
is, so the man will be. Good sons and
kind brothers make noble citizens. on
whose shoulders our Unions welfare
will soon rest. May God grant that
when the fathers lay the burdens down
that sons may step into the ranks, we'll
fitted for the grand work that they are
called to do.-Aice ". Kellogg, IN Gold