The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1916-05-05

:
thinking that the same ideas are in.
grained into the thinking of their
children, and they rest in Snug con-
fidence. The young people Of this
! generation are no worse in their
tendencies than those OF former gen.
erations. They live In a different at
mosphere, and are acted upon by DIFF
ferent forces, that is all. And the
general breaking away from tradi-
ton In other lines has had its effect
in the noticeable laxness In their re-
lations with each other.
know this is true from obserya-
ton and acquaintance with a large
number of young people in other
communities, as well as this. Young
girls of this town have told me how
difficult it Is to keep their ideals of
the proprieties and live up to them
and have acquaintance and associa-
ton with young men; on account of
the carelessness of other girls and
the general low standards of young
people in this regard.
l believe their testimony Is COM
petent, but If you doubt that evil
dence, l would suggest that you start
an investigation on your own ac-
count. Get yourself appointed chap
erone of few parties-picni
parties. or sleighing parties -partic-
ularly the sleighing parties. A few
experiences of that kind would be
an eye opener. I have no doubt that
the teachers who have chaperoned
parties could give you some inter-
esting information. And right here
let me say that chaperone cannot
create ideals. She can lend propriety
and responsibility to a party, but the
ideals must be inbred in the young
people whom she serves.
Another excellent help would be
for mothers to get acquainted with
their children. mean to talk things
over with them and learn their
ideals. 1t is surprising how much
we talk over just the things of life
that really do not matter, with our
boys and girls, and how little Of the
deeper things Of life, the eternal
verities, come into our conversation
with them. Many mothers would be
and hurt to know how
often their girls go to other sources
for guidance in their perplexities.
Many girls have come to me for ad-
vice on matters which they said they
could not talk over with their
mothers and l know this is the ex-
perience Of many teachers.
We mothers sometimes imagine
that our daughters know the prop
rieties by intuition. The I-know-my-
child-couldn 't-do-anything-wrong at
titude of the average mother is the
hardest thing in the world to COM
bat. don't know what my child
might do. l am dead certain that
without definite training she is liable
20 do almost anything. / don't be-
ieve I would care to have child
hat couldn't do anything wrong.
would be afraid he wouldn't have in
tiative enough to do anything. The
element Of uncertainty adds interest
Ind zest to this motherhood business,
Is well as to any other.
Then I believe that If the men and
women of this community took
greater interest in the young men
md women of the community, il
hey mixed more with them socially
nd made personal friends of them,
10Th older and younger would get
better outlook on life. l do not
ee the necessity of segregating peo-
lie just because they are young.
hey need us and we need them just
s much. I have been in gatherings
t women where / thought the pres
nee of the young daughters of the
romen would improve the tone of the
altering, and l do not doubt that
he same thing could be said of
len's gatherings. Some of the best
1eals l have had to help me were
laced before me by the friends of
ly father and mother who took an
lterest in me.
Let me sum up what I have tried
} say:
The personality of the community
| which we live is the force which
most potent in the character build
lg of our children.
We, as citizens of this place. are
elping to form this community per-
,nality.
| plead for the rebuilding of the
ay Of the conventions as the high
It protection to our children, for
,yond that wall lies the danger
me.
/ plead for the rebuilding of that
all by public opinion, by greater
miliarity and confidence between
rents and young people and be-
'een the older members Of society
It'll the younger; by definite train
g Of our young people in the prop
cites which should govern the rela-
IN of the sexes before they are tn
scriminately thrown together In So
II relations, this training to be
ven in the home preferably, but
the school If the home continues
refuse to do its duty.
/ plead for these things in the
me of the home of the future upon
itch rests the future of our
untry.
MRS. NELLIE CASTER,
A