New Britain herald., 1924-11-12
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Ing heartily applaulod as he sat
Two Flage In Service

In introducing the next speaker, Mir. Hdmlln compared the civilian life of citl2en of this country to a guest of wealthy host who enter tained layishly in great palace, with beautiful appointments so that the guest found interesting scenes and experiences on every hand, un- ttl one day the host opened hither- 10 closed door and standing behind his guest pointed out into impene- trahIe darkness and ordered him 10 Jump. Carried forward by the force of his government and an un- natural rage in his heart the citizen becomes a soldier and stands on the edge of an lmpcnetrable eternity 10 give his life and 10 take the life of another" he says.
 Mr. Hamin, who has made deep study of International relations and entered a plan in the Box peace con lest, dep,ored war among civilized nations. He then called on Theo- dore Johnson of New Britain, con- mander Of the Connecticut depart ment United Spanish war veterans. Mir, Johnson gave an interesting talk on some Of the aspects of sol dicr's life-haNing served three years in the army and being In the Phil ippines for one year and eight months. He told of the two flags in the service, the Stars and Stripes and the Christian flag which was hoisted over the national emblem each Sun day during religious services at the forts where he was stationed. He called upon his hearers to not only he ready if necessary to sacrifice for the Stars and Stripes but to sacri- fee time. talent and ability 10 tho cause of Christianity. He eXhorted the boys particularly to honor and respect these flags and devote their lives to their service in the interest of humanity.
 In introducing Rev. Joe" Palmer chairman of religious and social welfare service of the Hartford Y. NJ. C. A., the toastmaste described him as "a master mariner on the sea of adolesCent life who acted as an expert pilot to the small craft who were endangered. not steering them safely into port but teaching the boys how 10 avoid the rocks and shoals of danger they constantly met" Mr. Palmer said the problem of youth is rather the problem Of which we are not so conscious, the lem. He declared that there are 50 million boys and girls In the country under 25 years of age-that there are enough boys and girls under 21 to elect any candidate 10 the presi- dency. The greatest challenge today he declared is to be a father. The father should be the best instructor for his boy. Mir Palmer related in stance after instance in his own ex- perence in the Hartford "" where boys ran away from home because their father did not try to under stand them, where they were too busy withlodges, clubs, golf or busi- ness to give any time 10 their boys, and when the boy had poor marks the father condemns him for a hlockhead and instead of remember ing his own carelessness in youth ''crabs and grouches" until the boy is forced to run away to keep his self respect.
 The weakest spot in American l life is the home" he said, "No more family circles around the table in the living room evenings. Even when at home around the dining room table the father and older members of the family are absent In spirit while they mechanically feed their faces and hurry to rush out again 10 their outside interests, glad to get away" The father and son sometimes a thousand miles apart though sitting across the i table from each other, and the boy lost, because pointed in the wrong direCtion-was the picture he paint . ed of many an American home to- i day. What doth it profiteth a man if he gain everything material and lose his son?" asked Mir. Palmer as he related dramatically the experi- ences of boys of his personal &C., quantance who drifted around with a jazz crowd and worse because
 their fathers were too busy 10 know
 where they were or what they were
 doing.
 He said the man who is too busy to play with his son was only fit
 to turn up his toes and pass out
 and make room for a step-father
 who would play with him. He call
 ed men liars who promised theiI
 children hikes and trips and Contin.
 ualy turned up with an alibi when
 the time comes. The children notice this, they lose confidence in theil
 parents and more than one frankly
 concludes that there is no truth ir
 them. The father should be guide
 not a guide post-he should bt
 a constructive interpretation O.
 what he wants his boy to be-a liv'
 ing example"
 sMr. Palmer put it up to the boy'
 to bring up their fathers properly
 he conceded that 1t vas big ioh
 and pointed out that if the boy in
 sisted in being wild and careless
 dispite his fathers efforts to hell
 him, he was advertising to the WorIc
 that this father is a failure. He re
 lated cases where men had lost thei
 grip and their climb to success be
 cause the boy was such 8 disap pointmcut. But after all you can
 expect mahogany chips from pin
 blocks, and in most cases if father is sympathetic and tactful an' admits his own boyhood Weakncssc 10 his son, showing confidence il
 the boys coming through, the bo would not fail the father.
 R. & $. NJ. to Observe SiUninU Of ArmiStict