Evening capital news. (Boise, Idaho) 1901-1927, 1914-07-17
+ A GREAT LIFE WORK

fully into the past-it comes not back
again; wisely improve the present; it
is thine; go forth to meet the future,
without fear and with manly heart"
We are establishing for ourselves
today a new code, a new regime of
life, which is destined to bring
countless joys to parents and for which
future generations will owe a debt of
never ending gratitude. Never before
has there been so much concern about
the child of today, and the man OF to-
morrow. Never before have we devot-
ed so much time and study to the ply
steal and intellectual training of our
youth. Woman's organizations, church.
es. schools, and household magazines
are carrying on an earnest and persis-
tent campaign in the interests of the
child. Free milk stations for the dis
pensing of pure milk to poor mothers
for their infants, feed and save the
lives of thousands of poor babies an
nually. Free nurseries that are now
being supported by generous hearted
women and that are under the super
vision of trained nurses, are caring for
thousands Of babies during the day so
that the mothers are free to seek en-
ployment to earn a livelihood for them
selves and children. Nearly every
thinking man and woman today fav-
ors the teaching of sex hygiene. The
principle question that remains unset
tied is how and where It should be
taught. These are only a few of the
movements that are in progress, work
ing for the betterment of our children.
These movements are not intended
and never can remove any of the re-
sponsibility that rests upon the par
ents. They are only an aid and an ex-
ample for the less fortunate and less
informed parents The home is the
point about which turns the whole
problem Of morality. Here 1t Is that
the child receives the deepest and most
lasting impressions, Words from the
lips of parents and their daily lives,
are the strongest influences that bear
upon a childs life. Hence, every man
and every woman who takes upon
themselves the responsibility of par
enthood should be made TO realize the
sacredness of this position They have
received Gods richest and sweetest
blessing, the most sacred privilege of
life; they have brought into their lives
a 10Y that parenthood alone can bring;
there has been placed in their hands
life as flexible as potters' clay which
can be moulded into mis-shapen ugli-
ness or into everlasting beauty, "A
child's inherent tendencies of character
are solely the CO. mingling of its par
ents past and present lives and that
of It's ancestors. To what extent those
traits that are undesirable can be over
come depends largely upon the pre-
cepts of the parents or OF the ohild's
guardians Outside moral training
can accomplish wonders II aided and
abetted by parents. but without their
cooperation its influences are meas
ured.
For the first few years a child is
but little human plant to be fed and
trained, and parents have 1t within
their power to keep It well or to make
it sick The foundation for future
health can be laid, or the path for flu
ture sickness can be paved A child
can be made strong in body and mind
or 1t can be rendered weak in both.
Parents, you are the care keepers of
the most beautiful and delicate plant
of all Gods creation. Man Is His
masterpiece, the browning beauty of all
His work, and the parents and guard
ians OF our children today have the
moulding of the thoughts and morals of
tomorrow in their hands The efforts
of every good parent should be direct
ed towards giving to the world men
and women healthy in body mind and
spirit.
The child of today has great ad-
vantage over the child of yesterday.
His health will be protected even as
we have protected the health Of do
nestle animals in the past. If parents
fail In their parental duties organlza-
lions stand ready to help them, or to
take their place insofar as they can.
Such attention as our children are re-
ceiYing today, and that which will come
through our increasing interest in the
work. will safeguard them against
many OF the great physical and moral
dangers which have been allowed TO
prey UNDECIDED upon children in the
past.
-