The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1911-04-21
Continued from opposite side)

attend the ball game, if that interests
him, or other sports which are not de-
grading.
Teach him self respect by providing
him good, suitable clothes, and teach
him how to wear them properly. Give
him a place in the house. No reason
why his room should not be as neat,
coy and comfortable as his sisters.
If he wants to rearange things in
his room occasionally why not2 He
may-not arrange them just as you
would but what's the odd if the boy is
happy in the doing and the result?
Provide games, papers, and books,
musical instrument if you can-make
the home attractive in every possible
way. Let him invite his friends to his
home and room if he chooses. These
things cost money. That is true
enough, but better provide them at
home than demoralize the boys, in their
attempts to find amusements elsewhere.
Know where your boy is-who his COM
panions are but don't watch him-place
confidence in him but know these
things.
When making your plans for the
season don't forget The Boy. Con-
slider him as an undeveloped man, not
as a servant. Let him know you con-
slider labor faithfully performed worthy
of a reasonable compensation. The
compensation need not be large; but
give him something of his very own to
do with as he pleases. And first, last
and all the time remember this: The
boy will not leave the farm or home if
he finds there what his developing
manhood demands.
Not every boy raised on farm will
become farmer; nor every merchants
will sell goods. In short, if your boy
is naturally inclined to be machinist
or blacksmith do not spoil these trades
by making a poor preacher or lawyer of
him. Send him to school; not just the
bad days when he cannot work, but
every day until he has finished the high
school course.
No boy should reach the age Of 10
without being a politician in the best
sense of the word. He should be taught
the principles OF the parties, the plat
forms, all the ways of our national, state,
county, township and municipal gov
ernments. He should be taught that
all governmental functions should be
analysed and the bad sifted out regard
less of party lines or creeds.
He should be taught to be honest
with himself and his associates; to deal
fairly with every one, and to do as Josh
Billings says, Just skirmish ahead on
that line yourself and show him the
path of honor.
He should be taught temperance in
all things; total abstinence in the use
of liquor or tobacco. He should be
taught to say no to questionable sports
and occupations, and that no" means
I will not.
Our boys should be taught to be such
men as Holland speaks Of:
Men of strong minds, great hearts,
true faith and ready hands;
Men whom the lust Of Office can
not kill;
men whom the spoils Of Office can
not buy;
Men who possess opinion and will;
Men who have honor and will not lie;
Men who can stand before dem
agogue and down his treacheous fiat
teries without winking;
Tall men, sun crowned, who live
above the fog in public duty and in
private thinking"
The world needs such men. Our
boys will be men tomorrow. The
sooner we get the idea out Of our heads
that the boy is our debtor, and accept
the responsibility resting upon us and
make our homes, even though humble,
places Of happiness and good cheer
something more than place to eat and
sleep; a place where motheris the best
friend and father a chum-the sooner
we shall hear less of the dissatisfied boy
who tries to find fortune and happiness
elsewhere. II possible, when he is old