South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-05-09
Pan1bering Boys
Tends to Make
Them SbineIeSS
BY ARTHUR REID.

The boy has been a problem 90
his elders ever since the first sum
tanned-and hickory tanned--s0n 90
man ran barefoot through the
primeval wilderness And in nearly
every period OF history fathers have
used much the same means o. rear
ing their young. Men have always
experienced sympathy akin 20 pity
for the boy born with a silver spoon
in his mouth" II has been par
and parcel OF existence that lads
who have had TO rough Il and agh-
their way have made the stronger
more self-rcliant and cOmpanionable
men. The Spartans took lads or
seven from their mothers made
them wear the same scanty clothing
summer and winter. sleep on the
bare ground and train ceasele ssly d.
the hard art OF war The Puritars
trained their boys hourly by the
book. The fathers OF today We're
reared by rule-and rod.
One cannot but look askance.
then. at the prevailing custom Ui
pampering the boy. Perhaps IL is
the price Of prosperity that OF every
hand there are evidences that the
lads Of today are being humored
more than those OF any other gen
Grafton Of Americans. Everywhera
chaps OF 10 and . and the early
teens are spending money with an
abandon that would have amazed
those of a decade ago. And the
worst of il is that in most cases the
money has been handed out by in
dulgent parents 10 youngsters who
know all too we'll that there is more
where il came from.
Many fathers who look back ir
pleasant "reminiscences to their boy
hood, when five cents was worth
working an hour 10 earn and a quar-
ter was a veritable fortune. will re-
gret the present fashion. They will
remember the days when there were
no movies, no bicycles no Eymnasia
no clubs, nor any OF the other
myriad interests that have become
"A part of everyday experience. and
they viii remember that without
these alluring devices they had roll
licking times together. They can
not but look with bit Of pity upon
the lot OF children who. in this highly
organized age, often are miserablaS
without the stimulus OF expensive
games and totally lack within them
selves the power OF entertainment
and interest.
Myriad organizations are az worl,
10 reclaim sO-called bad bows But
in the meantime the good boys are
literally going 20 the devil I'm droves
because they are being humored and
pampered by indulgent parents The
father who in his school days wore
patches on his pants-and some
times patches on the patches-would
not think of permitting William 10
be seen among his playmates with
torn stocking; he would fear that
it would reflect upon his ability 90
keep William clothed.
SO William rapidly becomes Willie.
And the father who worked en-
Enthusiastically for a bit OF spending
money, viii not for a minute permit
his boy TO work for wages; he's
quite capable Of earning all his fam
lily needs himself. thank you! So
ne gives the chappie an abundant
allowance without ever a thought OF
the near certainty that the lad Will
grow up selfish and a snob
IT democracy is 90 continue as the
dominant inspiration Of the nation.
It must be taught In future genera
tions from boyhOod. and not merely
by precept and example, but BY eX-
perience. The boy who IS permitted
10 rough il with his fellows will
never lose his innate democracy. The
boy who is taught the worth OF
money by being encouraged to work
for it and permitted 20 spend n or
save il as his discretion viii never
be a spendthrift or an aristocrat
But the boy who is being pampered
poor chap-has a hard row ahead
when he goes from under the
parental roof Making il easy for
the lad is making il hard for him.