The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1923-05-25
Boys Are Boys

Boys Will be boys, n let them so"
their wild oats, are adages that long
ago were discarded when offered as
excuses for conduct of young Ameri-
cans that, to say the least. lacked con-
ve~ntionality. In recent years a sharp
er distinction has been drawn on m
duct lines. Clcanly, character build
ing sports. fostered by institutions of
education, have supplanted the era
when Sowing wild oats" was recog
nized as a %prerogative of young man
hood.
Boys are boys. And the response
bility for insuring their development
into American citizens worth while
rests upon the shoulders OF every citi-
zen. Jess Gowen Analyses the situa-
ton well when he wrote to Caldwell
kiwanians this week;
We little realize the influence we
have upon the young people who are
growing up in our community. Each
one of us has some boy of girl who
is watching our every move, and each
of US is the ideal of some young per-
sor.
A few days ago we were placed in a
position where we could not help but
hear the conversation of about twenty
boys who were discussing business and
men, mostly men. Ii ever a set OF men
were analysed from every point, the
business and professional men of this
town were by that bunch of boys. They
seemed to know every mans reputa-
ton, and those whom they thought in
any way shady in character, they told
it IN no uncertain words.
These boys also had some idea of
the line of business or profession they
would like to follow, and most of
them had their ideals among the men
OF this town, and they signihed a pre-
ference for all lines from a barber to
a sea captain. There was one minister,
one boy was already saving his money
to be a banker, ~ zeal being a bank
er in the town where he was born; one
was going to be a college president, he
also had his ideal; several were going
to he physicians and surgeons and
they had their ideal in this town; 9TH
ers were going to be lawyers and
their ideals were in Caldwell; and
mercantile lines had some favori;es,
with merchants here as their ideals.
When this meeting was over, my
thoughts turned back to the time
when / was a boy; how we thought
of the men whom we admired and how
disappointed we were when our ideals
were shattered; and my mind turned
back to the wise words of a good mo-
Their, something like this:
l started with my brother Bill one
day to clay, we thought we would 60
( o our aunt's about two miles away
There was a path through the woods
and fences to climb, and a creek to-
cross, but Bill knew he could jump
and leap. When mother was fixing
mt up and washing my face, she said,
Now Billie, watch your step, be care
full what you do. and don't forget that
Brothers following you"
For a moment Bill thought his day
was spoiled. but mother lifted up his
chin and smiled. you nigh, just as
we'll be learning now, son to think of
those behind you who are not as
strong as you. yet who think they can
find by stepping in your footsteps just
the road they ought to take; and just
as little brother here is trusting you to
make his day a time of happiness, so
all LIES journey through, watch your
step, be careful, there will be someone
following you"
How often those words came back
to me when I was going strong. and
the guide board said that my feet
headed wrong; | might get back. |,
what about the fellow who thought
the road was good because my feet
upon it? Maybe he would slip
and fall; perhaps he never would make |.
il back. What tnother said was true: !,
You had better watch your step, for
will be folks following you" h
Boys are boys today even as they
in the wild oat' era. But boys
will be manly boys il mcn set a manly
example for them.