Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1911-10-19
A PLEA FOR The BOYS.

In yesterdays issue of the Gazette
there was pathetic plea from'a boy IN
reference to the organization OF the
Boy Scouts ia Alexandria in which it
was stated that everything had been
done to establish this useful institution
here but that it had been Impossible
find any man to take charge OF the
scouts and assist the boys in their
worthy enterprise. 1t is to be sincere
ly hoped that some one will come to
their assistance so that the appeal may
not have been in vain.
The man who does not sympathze
with boy must. indeed, have poor
memory, and there is something wrong
with the man besides the mere forget
fulness that be was once boy. TIE
following by Gov. Bob Taylor, Of Ten
nessee delightfully."- pictures the happi-
ness OF a boy:
The happiest thing I ever saw was
barefooted aud dirty; he had freckles
on his nose, mud between his toes aud
holes were in his clothes. He roamed
over the hills and along the creek banks
and yelled because he had yeller and
whooped because he had whocppr;
his pockets were full OF strings and
things. He was the autCcrat OF the
breakfast table, the dinner table and
the supper table, the DEMOCRAT Of the
playground and the republican Of the
lunch basket; he wanted the whole
thing. He was the sworn enemy o.!
the bathtu5 and the Bible. Re would
prevarica,e when he thought it Wa5 in
justice to himself. Upon one such &C.
cason he went too far with it and was
arrasned before the family tribunal.
The Old gentleman looked very stsrnly
at the young criminal and said:
Young man. don't you go TO Sunday
School?' Yes sir. Well what
does the Bible say about lie?" The
boy scratched his head, tear rolled
down his check; he quickly brushed it
away, looked up With 4 twinkle in his
eye and thus he quoted: \ lie is au
Accumulation uuto the Lord aud u very
present help in time OF trouble"
There is a great deal OF life in the
real boy; there is kind of philosophy
in his LIE that be has worked out for
himself irom which you cannot scpar-
ate him. tie thinks the world is / big
playhouse in which everything and
everybody must have good time, and
it makes no difference To him what ii
costs the other fellow just 80 it affords
him amusement. His whole world re-
wolves around "a coed time" He Will
tie u string around kittens neck aud
hang it to tree and laugh while i,
squalls; he will kill a bird or rob ones
nest auG say that he is having good
time; IL is all because he has lhe wrong
conception Of things. He thinks that
the whole world is against him. The
strong made him the brunt OF rough
Jokes, stick pins in him nj school,
make him .un all the chores, scare him
half to death with dead snake or
something else and make his life gen.
orally miserable, Is it surprising that
he is 4 demon? y
As matter OF fact, the boy is the
most agreeable animal in the world il
you will treat him just half ri ght. VIII
give you bigger return for a smile, a
hearty hello" than anyone. lie Sill
run bis feet of to get smile from a
man that he admires. and he will ad.
nine most anyone that will take little
time to notice him; he will ight for his
friend quicker than any man; he is al!
around the best friend aavon9 can
have. Ii one will pay a little attention
70 min he will always Uc friend.
That fellow IS called the man that
binds up sore toes III that comulunity
to this day, and there is not mother
III the neighborhood but that To tell the
story.
They don't forget: the boy that is a
friend makes the Glan that is 4 friend.
He is not Il savage. lie is living,
lhrob5iag little man with his dreams
and bis schemes, with his pranks and
tricks, b,:y with it ali he is true and
loyal. We crush his feeling, scold him
c"l! him fool and pass on uege. think
irg that We have driven the smiles and
joy from 4 heart that meant no harm,
that meant no otIensC.
Just bog that WAS mcd,l!iDg and did
not think. it makes no difference.
,luSS hoy that has no money, 20
Influence. no power. but