The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1918-02-10

with their daughters is the fact
that fathers should be keen to
become their sons best pals as
the eleventh or twelfth birthday is
approached. At this between child
and man age the boy is some way
akin TO barbarian. He manifests
fits of temper, INDUCES in more or
less cruelty and behaves himself
generally unlike a gentleman. much
to the concern Of both mother and
tile woman school-teacher, neither Of
whom know just what to do with
this young barbarian.
Let him be noisy. Let him be
laundering and clustering. for he is
passing through an era of psychology
cal confusion--a stage that every nor
NAL, healthy boy must pass through.
This period of f-misUnderstanding
requires the firm. strong, but kind
hand Of sympathetic father, and
fortunate, indeed, is that boy who
possesses a conscientious, temperate,
Bsil-GoiItiolCu IliItI, WHO can ufl-
derstandingly enter into the game,
the chase or the hunt, and who can
confldentially listen to and talk over
events Of the young barbarians day.
Long walks into the country with
father afford excellent opportunities
for the discussion OF the wonderful
secrets OF manhood and for father to
get first-handed the queries and prob
lens of the developing man.
/ shall never forget one week -end
trip which called a father and his
hoy, both very dear to me. into
nearby state late on Saturday after
noon. Tho few necessaries were
thrown into the travelling bag and
they were off with a CHEEKY yell and
a wave of the hand. When the early
Monday morning train brought them
back in time for school there appeared
in the doorway beside the good man
of the house a very untidy boy with
soiled linen and sadly neglected face
and hands.
They had had wonderful time,
and, in response to my query, What
did you do?" came the answer: DO?
Why, we didn't do; we just talked
Why, mother, dad is the right stuff!
We talked about everything-just
everything that fellow ought to
know"
And by that thoughtful, far-away
look on his face, ! knew that the time
had come; that he had obtained tho
information; and that my baby was
very rapidly merging into the pre-
adoleseent stage; for, like the daugh-
ter, there are three big lessons that
should be taught every youth
He must be told of the wonderful
transforming work of the sex, secre-
ton, which is to find its way out from
the sex glands to the brain cells and
to every nerve and muscle fiber of
his body, and which will change him
from the noisy, laundering, buster
Ing young barbarian into a salwart,
chivalrous, powerful young knight.
And il this is told him by the man
who has the confidence and respect
OF the boy. the good that may be ac-
complished is Rmitless and tho in
fiuence OF such a confidence is I'M
told.
The second chapter in the puberty
book" for the young mans perusal
contains the explanation of his sex
dreams" The boy should be told the
plain truth about these experiences
Of the night season. He should be SO
Instructed in these things as to fore
stall all morbid fear and unnecessary
anxiety. He should be taught very
early that this phenomenon OF the
night is altogether natural and
normal and will probably occur at ir-
regular intervals throughout the
earlier years of his life or until his
marriage. This information will save
the young lad no end of useless worry
and possibly prevent the sorrow and
expense of disappointing experience
with some quack doctor who makes
a business of preying on the sex fears
and ignorance of such over anxious
youth.
Tho third and last chapter touches
the personal conduct and social rela-
tons with young women. Impulses
OF chivalry are stirring in the breast
of the adolescent youth and such con-
ferences help him to understand and
adapt himself to them. They are of
inestimable value to the youth in de-
veloping the highest social qualities.
but they need guidance.
1T is the unguided and unschooled
social instinct that leads the young
man to make advances toward famil-
iarity in his relation with his girl
friends, writes Hall.
THE impulse to protection when
unguided would prompt him to put
his arm about his girl friend. The
same impulse under guidance in
spires in him the attitude and the
daring of the chivalrous sixteenth
century knight doing homage to a
lady of the court, ready to entlanger
his life to protect her. and ready To
fight to the death in defense Of her
name and honor.
where parents and teachers co.
operate to teach the youth these
great lessons of life We insure the
conservation of the child, of those
qualities that make for the fullest
manhood and womanhood. Physical
/ health is preserved and physica
, stamina developed. Physical poise i:
maintained, and the highest ambi.
/ tons inspired in the fullest and bes
~