Middletown transcript., 1911-07-01
die cOIORED YOUNG MEN

From the State Sentinel we quote
the following bit Of advice written
by q colored man for the young
men of his own race. The theme
is of such importance, and its
treatment so fine, that The TRAN
SCRIPT conceives 1t can do the
colored youth of this community
no better service than to give it
in full, first, for its useful yarn.
ings and second, as an example
of superior composition by an
educated colored man.
The Courts have long since re.
cognized that tidleness is the fruit
ful parent of all crime. Often
have we counted as many as q
dozen colored lads and young men
here in town, loatng on a single
street corner, and on Sunday in
the woods a yet greater number
of men quarrelling and swearing
over a game of crap.
Three vices are curses to the
colored youth drinking, gam.
bling and loafng-and the last is
the parent of the other two. 1t
is q regrettable fact, as every
farmer and other employer of
colored labor, knows that it has
suffered a marked decline in quail.
ity and efficiency; the colored
young menof this generation with
far larger opportunities, is doing
less than those that preceded him.
'One Of the greatest menaces to
the colored people of this town is she
loafng element, predisposed as it is
to crime. There are mothers, fathers,
and grandmothers, whose only in.
come is what they make by daily
service as domestics or general Ia
borerr, who support from one to five
children ranging In age from 10 to II
and Is years who roam the streets
playing ball, shooting marbles, firing
off crackers and doing other mischief
from morning till late at night.
There is no need to ask one Of them
to work. They answer with counter
question, What to do7 and before
one can answer that question the
reply comes, No. Farmers begging
for and offering big pay for boys to
thin corn and do other light farm
Sorkj families seeking for help with
weekly wages and board, and still the
l6afDg goes on. Still parents sup.
port and indulge these youngsters to
do nothing. From such as we de.
scribe here the ranks of the criminals
are filed and kept filed. Parents,
why are You surpriseh when that
good.foE-nothing boy Is arrested aud
lodged in Jail? He is simply making
good (badl for the training you have
allowed him 10 get, drawing on the
resources You have helped him TO &C.
Chmulate. Then you weep, hire a
lawyer, hunt for bondsmen, all to no
avail; be is living up TO his training.
Every parent and guardian ought TO
make it rule of his household that
every member, SO soon as he or she
is old enough, shall do some useful
thing. Shall attend some school and
when. finished shall earn self.support
or at least part ofit. No matter how
high the collar or how evidently
creased the pants, or elegant the
heckwear, no good-for nothing loafer
is an ornament to any household.
He Is q menace to every occupant of
that abode"
We wish this wise appeal to
colored young men might be read |
from the pulpits of all the colored |
churches in the State. We warm
ly commend it to the pastors in
this vicinity.
Mr.. Pitts, the exceptionally in
telligent, and capable young col
ored principal of the schools here,
made it a point to teach his pupils |
morals and manners as well as
mere book knowledge-wisely in.
sisting on obedience and good
order, and 1t is both strange and
unfortunate that this proper
course has aroused opposition to
him upon the part of few. For
the best interests of the colored
schools Of this town, Mr.. Pitts
should be returned.