The Madisonian. (Richmond, Ky.) 1913-1914, 1913-07-01
PETS FOR THE GROWING BOY
Rabbits, Pigeons and Especially Gan.
tam Chickens Are Dear to
Heart OF Developing Lad.

tBy PROF. JOHN WILLARD BOLrES
Farming might be defined as tho
art OF producing valuable crops from
the soil and disposing of these soil
products in a profitable manner. THIS
definition Is lame. accidentally. but
II carries our idea.
The backyard farmer must include
great many other factors in his op.
erations, as the pecuniary profits he
derives are Of much less Importance
than the beautifying OF his surround
ings and OF the lives of his entire fam
lily. No intelligent person can live
amid beautiful ennobling scenes with.
out being Influenced for the better,
even though It be unconsciously. In
the same manner bare, sterile. unin'
teresting homes tend to have an ad.
veres effect upon their inhabitants,
which will affect them throughout
their entire lives.
Thoughtful people are realizing
more and more that unless the mind
is In sympathy with nature. unless
the garden of each persons inner self
Is fertile and responsive to cultiva.
ton. there is small hope Of better.
ment from outside influence. The
adult mind which has been denied
helpful influences may become imper.
vious to them In time. but the hope OF
the race lies in his children.
The child's mind is fertile gar
den. which cannot produce its own
flowers and fruit. but which responds
readily to the treatment it receives,
and bears fruit or evil weeds accord.
ing to what we plant therein and how
It is cultivated.
One of the most beautiful and hope.
full things about the whole scheme OF
creation is. to our mind. the fact that
every normal child ia born square
with the world He inherits neither
his parents bodily or mental diseases.
But from the instant he first cries.
his future depends almost absolutely
upon the care he receives.
Parents Of children have wonderful
opportunity to better themselves and
the entire world by making their own
children better than their parents,
physically and mentally. This is the
only way we have OF repaying to our
parents thek sufferings and depriva-
tons In bringing us to manhood and
womanhood.
There comes time In every boys
life when the childish amusements no
longer suffice. and he seeks interests
out OF doors. This is the time when
the mother ceases to have an eye on
his every movement and he begins to
associate with other boys OF his own
age. but Of totally different bringing
up, In many cases.
As far as possible, your boy should
be kept under observation at this
time, az he Is at the crucial stage
Make his home more interesting and
have his playmates there. so that you
can see that he is associating with
helpful children. rather than harmful
ones.
Nothing serves to make home inter
esting to boys at this age so much as
pets of their own. 1t Is a calamity to
have a boy grow up without having
owned dog of his own.
Rabbits. pigeons and especially ban.
tam chickens. are dear to the heart
OF the developing lad. and he is just
as much entitled to the helpful COM
partnership of pets as he Is to school
education. Let him have full respon'
sibility for them. and the results Will
take care of themselves.