The San Francisco call., 1910-06-12

and maidens, youths and misses
other changes also come about. There
are alterations in dress, in manner, a
blooming out as of buds. a futtering
as OF wings, balancing on the edge
Of the home nest. general disposi-
tion to enlarge their freedom and
make excursions into that part Of the
world which lies just beyond the
boundary of familiar environment
One OF the most noticeable char
acteristics Of this period Is the tug
ging at the bonds of parental re-
straint. There is an uncomfortable
desire to do something on ones own ac-
count. to try little flight into the un-
known, to go in quest Of adventure. All
those who have not by reason OF cruel
necessity been thrust out at an earlier
age pass through this experience In
the years preceding the twenties-
Parents. therefore. should understand
and prepare for It. 1t is an extreme
ly trying time and one that calls for
dexterous management, If catastrophe
is to be avoided. A spirited colt re-
quires a steady hand and undivided
attention.
The reins must certainly be loosen
ed a little as the child grows older.
tions that must be decided with
greatest discrimination in each par
ticular case. There can be no fast
rule.
We have an old saying. "Give an
inch, he will take an ELL" This is
susceptible of different applications
This overreaching may result from
greed, from impulsiveness, from
thoughtless pleasure carried further
than it realizes. Whichever it is.
youth cannot be left to its own de-
vices. Wisdom is not yet born and
the path is most alluring. Pleasures
spring up like flowers along the way,
but only those who know their
botany can tell the poisonous from
the harmless when the bloom is fair.
Youth. when normal. is exuberant'
sparkling, seeing beauty. everywhere,
hearing music all the time, seeking
joy in every offered cup, receiving
with eager hands every token Of
favor that the hour brings. Because
of this abandonment. which bespeakS
inexperience, this period is full OF
danger. 1t is right that youth should
have all the pleasure IT can get. TO
be garnered IN the storehouse OF
memory for the sake Of future years.
But some wiser head is needed to pre-
vent the humiliation of misjudgment,
the deception and betrayal of innocence.
Some parents forget that they were
ever young, some never were young,
others have had their vision obscured
by bitter trials, others still have
been lulled to drowsiness by the ease
and security of protected lives 10
all these much seems frivolous, alb
surd. useless. They try to make
staid men and women OF their ooys
and girls. jumping in one leap the
most enhancing portion OF life-en,
trancing because illusion hides all
ugliness and makes the world per-
feet. They tighten the reins, oblivi-
Gus OF the fact that the harness
strains to the breaking point. They
seek TO compress the growing soul.
unmindful Of the inherent law which
bids it expand
Unless child has been threatened.
cowed, held in bondage which has
broken its strength and destroyed It's
will, it yearns for pleasure. II the
bonds are held too tightly. he breaks
away altogether In desperation ana
defiance. or deceives you with the
idea that he is under control even
while he jumps the traces for wild
gallop when your attention IS engaged
remove restraint and leave him to
elect his own path. Even with the
very best intention, tnexpertence mis-
leads his Judgment.
where he will at his own discretion.
to seek his associates where he may
You must know what his amusements
are, whose company he cultivates.
where he spends his leisure. Retrace
your steps, stand at his side. be his
age. think his thoughts, commune
with youth. learn again its lessons;
share Its blessed hopes, lead 1T around
the pitfalls by gentle counsel. per-
suastve reason.
Do not make 1t necessary for the
young people to go away. from home
for their good times. Make home at
tractive. their friends welcome: Make
deceit unnecessary. When they go
elsewhere be sure you know Wnere
they spend it, with whom they spend
1t, In what manner they spend 1t. Pre-
caution often saves a heartache oy
and by. Many brand has been
snatched from the burning by
mothers head has been bowed in
shame and sorrow by lesson learned
too late. Parents cannot anord TO
trust too much. to expect too much. to
be Indifferent, complaisant, neglectful.
When the time of payment comes, their
house will be left unto them desolate.
Is your home home or hotel? Do
your sons and daughters come In 70
meals and to sleep. go out at will and
no questions asked, no interest
manifested? Do they keep irregular
hours? Are they practically under
their own entire control? l do not
see how any mother can sit at ease,
hearing the door close behind son or
daughter going out for an evening.
not knowing to a certainty how and
where 1t is to be passed / do not see
how she can bear to feel them going
away from her into companiOnshiD .
and among influences of which she is
ignorant. do not see how she can so
far forget her stewardship: how she
can quiet her conscience. No gambler
takes such chances or plays for such
high stakes as the woman who holds
child in trust.
A case that holds an enormous
power for evil recently came to my
attention. In a handsomely furnished
fat lives a young couple with their
two small children. They carry an
air Of refinement, they are surrounded
by evidences OF culture, they reside
among the well-to-do. To this home
two or three times a week come young
men and young women from families
OF respectability. 1t is a rendezvous
for wine suppers and that kind OF
gayety which is not approved by their
parents. The hostess Is a woman OF
charm, a musician OF extraordinary
skill and appealing power. 1t is easy
to see how naturally the beginning
was made, how attractive the way
looked, how insinuatfngly evil crept