Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1919-04-04
RECONSTRUCTION

In these days Of reconstruction,
readjustment and homecoming there
is line of thought that may we'll oc-
cupy the mind of every Intelligent
parent. We use the word parent,
not that the duty and responsibility
shall be narrowed down to those of
our own household, but because the
majority of those who compose the
constructive manhood and citizenry
of a community are parents, and If
that relation be natural and normal,
they feel an interest in the boys of
other parents.
Much has been written about
what to do with our boys when they
return" and while the question is
being asked, and a solution sought,
many have returned and are now re-
turning. We of the country and
smaller towns are too prone to take
it for granted that our boys will be
so overjoyed to get home and fall in
line where they dropped out that we
lose sight of probable eventualities.
No matter how our boys may have
been reared, the influences brought
to bear upon their lives, the unques-
toned interest they took in home af-
fairs and the measure of content
ment they found in familiar surround
ings and Toutine occupations, during
their army life they have had new
environments--Gur and dis
cipline that are new and impressive.
We say no matter what influences
may have controlled or what char
acteristics predominated in pre-war
days, none of us can hope to have
our boys return to us just as when
they left. The brightest of them are
coming back with new visions and
ideals, and even the dullest of them
with an enlarged and broadened per-
spectiye They have seen much of
the world, good and bad; they know
what it is to do things on big scale,
know what it means to be aggressive
and progressive. Will they be salts
fed, after the joys and citation of
homecoming, with the things to
which they return? VIII the old
life prove irksome, the formel meth
DDS and relations satisfying?
If we are honest with ourselves we
will admit that, along civic, econom-
ic and religious lines, we have been
playing This lesson we have learn
ed from the big tasks and accom-
plishments during war times-the
doing of things, both as government
and as small units, on a scale and
with a purpose and success never be-
fore dreamed of or believed possible.
All this they have witnessed and TAX
en- part in. VIII they now be con-
tent with the narrow sphere, the
limitations of the old life? Some of
them may, others will try to adjust
themselves, and will succeed, but
they will need help.
We are not among the number OF
those who predict that the boys will
go into Mysteries and feel vengeful
because the nation went dry in their
absence; nor do we take stock in the
argument that 1.-The bars should be
let down" and "blue laws" repealed
to insure their contentment, but we
are convinced that they will look to
parents and christians for new
comradeship and confidence. We
believe that they will have learned
the lesson of service-which is all
that is worth while in life-and will
want to apply it in every relation.
Many of them will prove capable of
leadership, will have ideas and aspi-
rations that will shame us as parents
citizens and churchmen. If we would
see them happy and contented, want
them to stay at the old home or on
the farm, we will do we'll to study
them, encourage their larger vision,
and, in many instances, some of us
may do we'll to step out and give
them room.
The centenary movement is timely,
and this young blood will put it over
the top if we help to get the harness
on and traces hitched. They will
scorn our snail pace in road building,
and if we keep them with us, as we
must, their presence will quicken in
dustry-become veritable "army of
occupation" in matters of industrial
and religious development.
1t is not so much question as to
what we will do with our boys as
what will our boys do with u.s."