The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-09-24
OF the
Household

time that he can call his very OWN. /
and in the mere deciding IL y new
responsibility which reacts on his whole
nature. He shows what is IN him, mol
SO much by the way he does the tasks /
prescribed by another as by the way |
he prescribes his own tasks
IL he Is taught to use 1t right. - |
boy. his destiny is decided. He cans
not be coerced, but the possibilitiesI
may be opened to him In fascinating |
way, by a recital of the historic exam
pies. EIihu Bnrritt, the blacksmith. |
became learned linguist while work |
Ing at the forge Sir John Lubbock
was banker, but he found time al |
odd moments TO become a great arch |
eologisf. John Locke, the philosopher.
did most of his work that lived while
resting from his daily toll. Our own |
Benjamin Franklin used to take r.
book to the table with him. when he
was very intent on some special scten-
tific point. Hugh Miller became q
learned geologist while pursuing his
trade as a stonemason. But the list
is too long to give. These are emf
nent examples, but not too eminent to
be useful.
Some OF that time can be spent In
play especially in the twilight. when
he and the other boys get together
on the lawn or In the vacant lot
across the street for wholesome
game, The long winter evenings give
him very rare opportunities for Va
riety of things. Instructive play 10
one of the best things for him and
the other members of the family The
plays may be dramatic, with simple
attempt TO portray the characters Of
q book. Or the time may be given 10
reading, alternate reading, In which
each one win takesa character. ! re.
member a reading from Dickens, In
which several Of us took part and the
part OF atr. Wegg and his wooden leg
afforded us plenty of fun. Fortunate
for him. IL the older members of the
family are playful in their feelings NJ
well as serious and know how 10 give
direction TO the evenings enjoyments
In the form of sympathetic and sensf-
BILE advice He is always open TO that
kind OF help, for Il trains his power
of choice. instead of denying 1t to
him. The right OF tactiul supervision
over all his time must never be sur
rendered.
/. When the games and readings are
social they develop hts sense of social
responsibility and train him in the
virtue Of sympathy. The more Ne can
do for the benefit OF others the mora
he gets out Of 1t. II he is fortunate
enough to be one OF several children.
he Will come to think of the mutual
interests of this use OF his spare time
with more pleasure than any other
feature Of IL. This viii be Increasing
~ the case after he reaches his teena.
The evenings excitement must not
be exnausting and must not be 20 ex-
citing as To make him dream az being
| tomahawked or chased by tigers NOR
must he be allowed to think he Il be-
ing driven into a grown peoples pro-
gram This will take time. But 4
don't know any ffrst-class boy who -
ret worth time and all the time there
| liz. 1t will take great deal of In
genious forethoughf and planning ana
! arranging. but II there Is any boy
worth doing II for. II 10 your boy.
There are other things besides play
! that he can do In his own spare
hours. II is a good time for him to
! ride his hobby. II he has one. and K
| he has not one Ii Is good time for
/ him TO hunt one up. His dominant
| taste viii show itself enough for q
wise pair OF parents To help him find
the very one he needs So many
things In science and mechanics are
now brought within the cnmprehen~
sion or children, II Will be easy to in.
terest him in something that may
/ prove Of value 10 him ali the rest Of
his life. One thing more. OF vast mo.
inent: He must be taught to minister
/ in an unaelfish way 10 the needy. ana
some of his own time ought 10 b
spent that way