The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1913-03-27
The Near Citizen.


society, the dominating influence in
the life Of the Individual who is to
become a citizen OF the city, state
and nation, and, as such, it should
furnish the greater part of all the
recreation and instruction that fits
the individual to take his or her
proper place in society as a citizen.
Every boy and girl means a sep
arate home, normally speaking; and
every home in a community is a fac
tor in civic life willy-nilly; it then
follows that it must be either fac
tor for good or else d factor for evil,
according to the stand towards soci-
ETY. which the homemakers take.
Why not train the boys and girls
in definite way for homemaking?
Not domestic science, for that is es-
sentially a feminine art, and is being
we'll taught and encouraged, but in
the attainments of mind and quail
ties of character that develop a help
full citizen, and not a parasite. Boys
need it as we'll as girls.
Among other things, a good citi-
zen should have a trained intelli-
gence, should be taught that every
individual right has corresponding
responsibility. A helpful citizen
should have high ideals, should be
rooted and grounded in religion, for
nowhere else can pure ideal be
found; the character of the ideal de-
termines the character of life. A
true citizen should possess right hab-
it's. We are all creatures of habit
and, if the home does not teach COR
rect ones, some other place will
teach what it pleases. An enthusi-
astic citizen should have a we'll de-
ve]oped though we'll controlled emo
tional nature. Self-control is a
much to be desired virtue in our
present day. A well-directed en-
thusiasm overcomes great obstacles
and accomplishes much, but a move
Gent led by uncontrolled enthusiasm
may become cyclonic in it's wild
effects. And lastly, our future citi-
zen needs a trained will. 1t may be
that lack of right habits, inclination,
convenience or custom may threaten
to obstruct performance of what a
trained intelligence says is right,
and Immediately necessity arises
for some dominant force in charac-
ter to compel action. ......
Where can all this be taught bet
ter than in the home? The home
should be the training ground for all
these fundamental attachments of
mind, and no one may gainsay the OPP
portunities a home affords for the
practice of these doctrines. But they
must be taught; they are not indig-
enous to the infant soil The soil
is rich indeed, but seeds must be
sown before grain is expected. And
as the world is fed by the farmer, so
society is fed by the home. We hear
a great deal in these days about the
havoc that bad seed works in grain
| field, and we see strenuous endeavors
made toward eradicating it by the
farmers themselves. To some of us
it seems, as if our American home
was speedily bringing upon itself the
indictment of RELOCATING altogether
it's own inherent, sacred powers and
responsibilities to church, school,
newspaper and political or ethical So
cieties. Cooperation between IA
Their and mother is absolutely neces-
sary to obtain rounded harmonious
character in the family life; and the
atmosphere of his or her home life
will be the atmosphere of many
other homes. Women, an epidemic
of bad home atmosphere is spread.
ing! What are we doing to eradi
cate Urinary Sue Willes in The
Courant.
; IT, ~ .