The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1928-04-19
Famous Expert
On a Delicate
Problem
BY L. Lamar Matthews

when / was IL years. old !
stacked shingles eli day, every
day for months" declared Mr..
Beason, looking accusingly upon
his son. when was your age
I got up every morning at 4
o'clock, walked mile to brick
yard and worked there until
dark"
IF were you, Thomas" said
Mrs. Beason calmly, I'D never
tell that on my parents again"
Mr.. Beason looked at her in
establishment. She had heard him
brag about his early industry
many times before, but this was
her first caustic remark upon
the subject. He imagined that it
taught her lesson in directing
their children's efforts, and he
fully intended that 1t should make
the youngsters ashamed OF their
own idleness.
Seeing that clouds were rising
in the home atmosphere. son
muttered something about his
lessons and slipped out of the
room. And daughter quickly fol-
lowed.
'sWhat do you mean?" de-
lnanded Mr.. Beason.
81 have often wondered why
your mother and father let you
work your youth away instead OF
spending 1t in school. You have
had a hard struggle and many
humiliatiOns because you missed
your schooling.
went to school" protested
Mr.. eBeason.
Yes. occasionally. In between
your measly jobs" was the. reply.
"If it had been necessary could
understand it. But happen to
know that your father owned his
home and earned a fair salary.
They could have managed with
out sacrificing you.
why, they were the kindest
parents in the world. answered
the man.
yes. but they let you grow up
without any education. And they
owed you one"
A long time ago people thought
that children owed their parents
an everlasting debt of gratitude
because mothers and fathers had
brought then into the world and
had attended to them through
The modern idea is that chill
dren were brought into this
world without being consulted
about the matter. and that life
has been unwittingly thrust
upon them. Therefore parents
owe them ali the comforts and
advantages that are possible.
For parents to compel an
older sister to play nursemaid to
the younger ones is an outrage.
said a mother recently. ''That
girl had nothing to do with the
advent of her little brothers and
sisters into the world. They are
not her obligations. Her parents
should keep their own RESPONSE
bilities.
ut has always Infatuated me.
she continued. when l hear OF a
mother or father taking a child's
wages. II the family is poor. the
working son or daughter should
pay share of the household ex-
penses. But for man or woman
Z TO demand the earnings of a
minor is the limit!'
There Is happy medium be-
tween those two viewpoints. 1t
A not for food and clothes and
shelter and schooling that chill
, dren owe their debt OF gratitude.
1t is the patient, loving care, the
numberless sacrifices, the unfail-
ing devotion that call for apprecia-
ton and some sort of return.
The average boy who has
grown up-under such care and
kindly treatment has the feeling
that his home, his next OF kin are
part of his existence. II his
services are necessary for the wei
fare OF the family he is usually
willing 10 lend hand. OUR
house. OUR family. OUR prob
. Ien1s." That is the proper atti.
ft1do.