South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-06-18

dtlou and pow Ter me result IL oit-
ter disappointment-misht occupa-
tons and tragic failure
Half World j. Unhappy.
am convinced that half the
world is unhappy in its lifes work
only ask the first DO men you meet
and YOU will hear from their lips OF
az least i've Of them bewail their
mistake in a lifes choice. Why
II was due 10 "a faulty vision when
their choice was made. Their minds
were immature. Education was set
ASIDE as useless. We boast OF our
education and we do excel many
countries. but % percent OF the
American population can beast only
Of reading. writing and arithmetic
The average American Is only a
sixth grader. But one-tenth Of our
population finished the public
school. One-h half 20 twO-thirds o.
our children quit at the eight,
grade. But one-dfteenth finish the
high school and but five percent the
college.
Why do we exhort 20 education?
Certainly not as an end in itself.
Not merely 10 learn tables, nor 10
acquire facts Not indeed. TO fur
nish a couch on which 10 lie down;
not as n tower from which We can
look down upon others nor a ram
part from which we can resist them.
Not these. But education as means
20 and end. First. 20 the individual
himself in evolving his own person
alty; i'm giving him inspiration, in
itiative. grasp, power and, having
obtained these. he shall use them IT.
the uplifting Of his fellow men ard
for the glory of the Creator. This
is an element necessary in the max
ing Of a wise choice. SOlomon's
years and Solomon's opportunity
must not be lost sight Of when we
study Solomon's choice. Having
these things as a basis-tnis young
prince proceeds in a perfectly logi-
cal way 90 make mis- choice. he is
the possessor of an accurate sight.
H-HONOR or PARENTS.
This vision first led him TO look
backward Thou vert with my
father David" He proposed in this
choice TO think OF his father. one
of the marks OF maturity Of mind
is the respect in which we hold our
parents. The temptation of youth
is that when IL discovers a truth
that il believes that up till that mo-
ment il was never known before.
The knowledge of the present age
is apt 10 lose respect for the knowl-
edge Of the age preceding IT, The
present generation rightfully lays
claim 70 wonderful triumphs of in
ventlon SO also may the ages past.
There is such a thing as the lost
arts Egyptian looms turned out
shawls Of such fneness that wom-
an could wrap her entire body in It
or draw il through her finger ring;
connOisseUrs vainly have tried TO re-
produce an ancient Etruscan
brooch Since the war we have
been distressed by the loss of Ger
tain coIors. But the old Egyptians
manufactured colOrihgs that have
retained their pristine freshness aft
en- 1000 years We only need 10 re-
member the philosophy, art. archi-
lecture and law of ancient Greece
and Rome 10 remind as we can with
profit turn our minds 20 the past.
So may we look back with profit TO
our parents
one of the greatest perils OF
youth is the peril Of disrespect for
parents but because they are old or
because we imagine their knowledge
Is inferior 10 ours, or because op-
portunities were closed TO them
which have been opened wide 10 us.
Resentment of Authority.
Adolescence brings with it
spirit of independence 1t has a
tendency 20 challenge authority and
10 throw of restraint IL brooks no
opposition 10 its freedom of thought
and action. As a rule the most gall
ing restraint is that Of the home
life expressed in the authority of
parents. The first law which youth
challenges is the NTH command
ment. Honor thy father and thy
mother" This tendency OF youth
manifests itself under two forces
irreverence and disObedience.
one only needs 10 keep open his
eyes and ears in a modern Ameri-
can community 10 discover this spir-
it Of irreverenCe of parents by young
people Within two months two
boys We're playing in the church
yard. and one said 10 the other
upon the approach of his father.
Here comes my old man" This
no doubt, was the result OF one of
many influences. one the fear OF the
criticism OF his companion If he had
said. here comes my father"-or
the feeling again OF his own strength
and independence. or the diminish
ing appreciation of his father 4
value or 20 the thoughtlessness of
youth. But with any OF all OF these
there Will be a growing disregard
OF the value % the parents counsel
or advice in matters pertaining TO
the life work Of the young man or
woman.
Spirit OF obedience.
The other tendency Of adolescence
is 70 disobedience. In every we'll