The Washington herald., 1913-01-19
Influences from Which Our
Children Need Protection
Shield That Little Lad in Your Home from, As
sociation with Boys Whose Home Training
Is Not for High Ideals.

a'o''idte IN pay with a OOy VINO - VIC
lous and fail to imbibe some part Of his
viciousness
was talking to a very busy home
maker the other day upon this subject
and she told me that the care OF a big
mouse made it impossible for her to
Keep as intimate a knowledge Of the
associates of her three boys as she would
like. looked around at the immacu-
late house and the impulse was strong
upon me TO ask whether il was more
important to keep the dust from rolling
up under the beds once in a while or
to take the time to be sure that the i'm
pressionable minds OF these three little
notwithstanding were not imbibing
opinions and ideals passed on 10 them
by other boys whose minds are perfect
incubators for low ideals? 1 didn't ask
the question for 50 true a fool is a
mother that IL is impossible to separate
her from the idea that because a child
happens to be her offspring he is a piece
OF perfection.
And the more / see OF the type o,
mother land her name is legion, who
thinks IL a disgrace to have a particle
OF dust discovered in her house, but who
has no qualm OF conscience when her
boys are absent for hours with Tom,
Dick. and Harry. where she knows not.
imbibing influences that will shape and
mold their characters she seems 70 care
as little
What She Can Do.
OF course, I am fully aware that no
mother can keep her little sons tied to
her apron string from sunrise to dark.
and on until bedtime. but there is some
thing she can do. and that something Is
to make him feel the truth Of Just this
very thing. teaching him that she is
powerless to be present at his crucial
moments: pOwerless TO live his life for
him: pOwerless in all save to show him
the way. The hoy who is made to feel
that the real responsibility OF deciding
between right and wrong lies with him
Is usually capable Of meeting this re-
spOnsibility. His inherent manhood is
stirred and he learns 10 reason within
his own mind and do the right because
IL Is the right. and because he knows
that with him rests the choice OF right
and wrong. and upon him will be laid
the responsibility for the consequences
OF his choice.
But to help him do this do we not owe
him in his tender years Of youth all tho
protection from influences which will
tend TO lower his ideals OF right which
il is in our power TO give him
To my mind the one most important
thing is to shield him from association
with other boys whose home training and
influences have not been calculated To-
inculcate in his mind lofty ideals and
worthy ambitions.
Next in Importance comes the papers
and books and magazines which We bring
into our homes knowing that they will
fall into mighty young hands; will he
read by as young eyes, and absorbed
by just as young and impressionshle
minds. II We will but look back To the
radiant days of our own childhood We
will remember how often We initiated
book folk of whom We read. how deep
an impression a character Of fiction
made upon our minds. furnishing an
example to be emulated. and in the light
OF these memories We can assuredly
recognize how grave may be the infiu-
ence of sensational literature in the
hands of our children.