The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1913-06-12

that you never have done before.
| Some of these sights, some of these
remarks, some of these invitations
will be such as you have considered
wrong and improper, ungentlemanly
and unladylike You do not wish to
do anything which would be discount
| tenanced by your parents or which
| will reflect discredit upon your pa
rents, your school or your church
You will be puzzled just how to settle
the matter. You will not have time
to write home and inquire as to
whether they are approved at home
You will think: 1T cannot do much
harm; nobody will ever know about
it at home; 1t would be great fun to
do it just for once; lots of the others
are going to do it; it doesn't matter
If / don't have my lessons tomorrow;
it would be interesting TO see just
what that kind of life is like; there is
not one chance in a thousand of any
harm resulting from doing it this
time" What has happened? Your
personal thoughts are no longer pure.
In this respect you have disregarded
the principle which you had taken as
your guide.
You will be thrown in more or less
with persons whose habits are SLOW
emily and untidy. You will meet
some whose breath reeks with nico-
tine. whose fingers are yelloWed by
| the poisonous weed, whose viii! IL
weakened by the use OF intoXicants in
small or large quantities. Some of
these persons will seek your compan-
ionship in these pastimes Ask your
self IF | do this shall be bring
ing in the Kingdom Of God?' 1t is
not a question OF merely Willing
away the time for an evening. 1t is
a question of hindering or helping
the cause of the Kingdom of God. 1t
! is a question of purity of personal
habits. Test every thought and every
habit by personal probity.
In choosing your life work, ask
yourself this question. will this
occupation tend to make my thoughts
purer and my habits more whole
some?" You see, as a friend inter
ested in your future, am attempting
! to help you choose a life that is
worth living as well as to assist you
| in selecting some occupation in which
you can earn enough money to supply
you with plenty of food and clothing.
In reading books, ask yourself: will
this book elevate my thoughts?' In
writing letters, ask yourself. Does
this letter improve my thought life?'
In going to the theater. in participant
ing in recreational activities, in at
tending lectures, in choosing acquain-
tances, in spending Sundays and
~ 1aH oh
this purify my thought-life?' AnC
you will soon find that a good man.
of the books that you have read, anc
good many of the plays to which
you have gone, and number of the
games in which you have participant
ed, and number of the acquaint
ances which you have made, ant
many of the ways in which you have
spent your time will all appear AZ
hindrances to the building up of per
sonal probity. But i'll their steaC
you will read other books attenC
other theatrical performances, go t.
other dances, form other friendships
choose other occupations. and dis
cover that your thoughts are becom
ing purer and your habits more
wholesome. Test everything by tn
standard of personal probity.
And how will it be with regard t.
social integrity? Your social lif
commences in the home. The frs
friendships which you form are will
your mother and your father. Grad
ually your circle of friends and tn
fringe of acQuaintances enlarge. Io'
become interested in brothers an
sisters, in neighbors and strangers, il
distant relatives and others whit
chance to cross your path.
What kind of intercourse do yol
have with these persons? | will no
refer to the past. That is gone.
will confine myself to the future. Yol
are away from home. Those at HON,
are interested in every last detail tina
you are interested in. II you are a
college, your studies, your acquaint
ances, your professors, your clubs
your dormitory life, the decoration
of your rooms, the kind OF furniture
in your study. the lecturers and tn
preachers whom you hear the vari
Gus methods of exercise which appea
to you, all these interest those a
home. If you are in business, you
activities. your work, your boarding
place, the way you spend your even
ings and holidays and Sundays. you
friendships, everything connected
with your life interests the hOm
folks. Heretofore YOU have livet
right at home. The other member
of the household have known ever,
day what was attracting your atten
ton. Now that you are away the,
earnestly desire to hear as often a
once a week. And when they hea
from you they do not wish mer
postal card saying 20, k or All
we'll" or Very busy. They wish T.
know what you are busy about. Ant
, half an hour week to write them il
, considerable detail is not very mucl
| time, if you only plan for it and re
serve that time for the letter home
: 1t means more to Il mother to hav
nice long letter once week, thai
t to have a postal every day Main
tain a strict integrity in writing
home.
, At college or in business you will
, meet with a large number of persons
, You will have certain unaYoidabl
relationships with those persons
} They will ask you to share some o
their pleasures and some of thei
trials. How shall YOU conduct your
, self toward them? BY always ask
, ing: How can | advance the King
| - 4 In, ha Ia n O