The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1910-10-02

Some years ago in leading magazine
Tor the home there appeared an article.
contributed anonymously by one who
signed herself The Mother OF the Boy"
This article contained some mighty good
advice on the rearing OF boys The author
stated that she had reared four-all fine,
honest, successful men
Among the points taken up In the arti-
Gle was the question of money. The
mother worked on the theory that the
money that comes easily goes Just as
easiiy-a truism that is being demonstrat-
ed nightly, wherever the bright lights
glitter on this theory as a basis, she
undertook to devise plans by which her
boys from the time theY were old enough
10 comprehend the principles OF give and
take-and do not be fooled into thinking
that child develops this faculty late In
hte-were able 10 make money for them
selves by substantial services TO her. The
money, be II said In passing, was not
given as brias 10 take medicine, or TO
stop crying, or things Of that sort, but as
payment for service rendered.
Start the Boy Right.
But al the start the mother explained
10 her boys that while the money was
theirs TO do what they liked with, If it
was spent foolishly there would be none
10 use when a real desire was 10 be met.
And, making her rule rigid. not to give
them money for unnecessary things. un-
less they had earned it. a few experiences
In doing without what they wanted be-
cause they had spent their money before
soon fixed the idea in their young brains.
When they We're mere babies. their
earnings were. OF course, small, and al
the largest Were not sufficient 10 be kept
anywhere but in the house. The boys, by
mutual consent made their mother bank
er until they were large enough TO make
the trips 10 the savings bank. After that.
as soon as some money was earned the
boys would take it down 20 the savings
bank and have It entered 10 their credit
before spending "a cent Of H.
In time the bank balances of these boys
grew, until, when IL was time for them to
go away 10 school, each possessed hand
some sum, which proved sufficient for all
their extra expenses during the four
fAAE at afiArEt ana dS the Udnh
balances grew. the boys grew, physically
and in their confidence in themselves.
The mother. in her article. told Of the
mental balance II gave her boys; the
sense of independence that they develop
ed with the knowledge Of a bank account
at their back: how proud they We're OF
II. II gave them feeling OF RESPONSE
bllity, too she said, which. far from de-
pressing them, bred the habit Of think
ing carefully about a proposition before
entering into H.
An object Lesson.
This mothers success with the expert
ment on her four boys seems to have
proved the worth OF her theory, IL is
well enough for US 20 talk Of generosity
and 10 condemn what we call "penuri-
BUSINESS" But thrift - sensible, open
from penury And what avails all the
generosity in the world if there is not
the wherewithal 70 be gener0us2
Perhaps you have not made a success
OF your life in a business way-most men
think they have not-and as a father you
desire for your son all that you did not
attain. You wish that he might avoid
ell that hindered you; that he might
start without the handicap that dragged
YOU down; that he might have all the
advantages that you did not have. Cast
your eyes back over your career. What
was IL that contributed most TO your
failure-if failure il was? Or. II it was
success, what was II helped you most?
It's ten to one that II you failed you
never learned TO save your money; OF If
Won succeeded, that you did save your
money This quality of saying-of thrift,
il you wiil-lies at the root Of all material
success.
So. to start your boy right. is it not
imperative that you inculcate at the very
beginning the habit of thrift? There
Is hardly a man who will not agree that
this is SO.
Make your boy a success by starting
him-on the road that leads TO success
the road OF saving. Make him earn his
money. and teach him the necessity of
saving il. Provide him the means Of
earning money. and provide him the
means OF saving his pennies and dimes.
Then, when he has saved as much as a
dollar. take him to any bank in Wash
ington and let him open an account.
Have him open It in person and in his
own name. The bank will be glad TO
have him for a customer, and having an
account OF his own will help him save.
When this shall have been done the road
e half traVaTSe1