Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-07-03
ESTABLISHED 1925.
Friday, July 8, 1914.
Just q Moment, Boys.

If we were a boy tomorrow-what
then?
Well, we have BEEN boy, and we
have celebrated our noisiest on indie
pendence Day. and deluded ourself
with the notion that we were having
FUN. We have loaded an old Spring
field rifle (bored out to make a shot
gun of it, half full of coarse powder
and banged away with it, time and
again-what for?
We were making a noise, and we
didn't know what for" We didn't
care. We had an idea that the illus
trious shades of our forefathers were
looking down on US with proud approx
al-because we were hazarding our ex-
istence in order to make a noise. We
had inherited the ambition to out do
all others in noise making and the
chances We would take on being a VIC
tim Of the Fourth of July.
And all the fun" there was in it,
was the momentary rejoicing after
each fool stunt, that we were still
awe.
Then one day we witnessed a TRACE
dy the pathos of which was life-last-
ing, and we bagan to think-actally
"think"-about the folly of it all, and
the spectacle of live boys and full
grown men making monkeys-and
angels-of themselves in the name of
patriotism"
We had seen young men of brutal,
thoughtless, almost worthless, vicious
type, committing acts of merclless
mischief on the Fourth, in the name of
patriotism.
We had known of men laying in
stock of intoxicating liquors upon
which to celebrate" the anniversary
of American independence. Qmagine
the patriotism. the love of country,
loyalty, bravery and intelligence of
drunken man as national asset.
eowardly trickery upon innocent or
nervous or sick, in the name of a
Fourth of July joke.
We mad felt the shame OF being only
in touch with party of boys and
young men who perpetrated property
destroying crusades by way of adding
to the FUN of the CELEBRATION.
Oh, what a pitiful makebelieve.
Can any sensible boy who has the
courage and decency required of a
Boy Scout, ever look himself in the
faca and admit that he could tolerate
such shallow farce, when he con-
siders the meaning of the day?
In the first place the brain of every
boy has been entrusted with the care
of body. Thus boys first duty to
his country as well as to his Maker,
is the care of that body--to preserve
it, keep it clean and strong and per-
feet, so that if the country needs it,
it may be worth using. No boy has a
right to hazard that body by foolishly
taking chances with it in showing
off, in the name of patriotism or any
other ism.
The brain that is not careful of,
faithful to, and trustworthy with, it's
own private body, can not be trusted
oh e. hue xxyif n
anything else. That boy could never
leave legacy of independence to
those who come after him.
That is what our. country's builders
left to us; shall we repay them by
foolhardy, cowardly or destructive acts
by way of celebrating the anniversary
of the event?
Rather, let US enjoy ourselves by
wholesome, sensible means of max
ing ourselves useful to ourselves and
to others. The boy, who by his man
Illness and common sense shames the
liberty and smells of liquor, has done
something in the eyes of those who
left Us a Fourth of July.
There are countless ways of having
fun 90 the Fourth of July or any other
day, for fun" is state of mind only.
But the most patriotic thing a boy
ever did is TO show that he is above
fooIharGy tricks, destructive pranks
or thoughtless injury or inconvenience
TO others.
When we have a desire to blow
things galley west and whooperup, on
the great and gee-lorious day of days.
let us pause and wonder if a Hotten-
tot would act as silly.
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