The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-06-24
Well-Kebt
Home Holds
Children
BY MARTHA LEE

D1 MAN ia LEI
Home life and environment i'm
measurably influence a child'S fu-
ture. Knowing this, most parents
strain every nerve, every string on
the purse, to give their children
the best they can afford in the
way Of home.
Not that the size of the house
or how deliberately it is furnished
has anything to do with things. 1t
doesn't.
But a good neighborhood, a
smooth-running household, a gen.
tile and well-mannered family have
everything to do with how the chill
dren are going to look upon life.
The influence it has upon boys
and girls differs, too. A boys child
hood friends have much to do with
his future life
If his companions are rufT1ans
who have a disregard for law and
order and the little courtesies of
life, the boy will go out and do
likewise.
You see, boys, being what they
are, spend all their waking hours
when they are not in school, ronp-
ing around with their gang"
Different With Girls
With girl it is little different.
She is apt to be in closer contact
with her mother and less susceptible
to her chums.
But when that girl grows older,
and is at the age where she is bring
ing her friends to her home, the re-
suit Of her home life is going to
tell.
She will hesitate to bring her boy
and girl friends to her home if the
house is i'll kept, and the family
uncompanionable. She will meet
her friends elsewhere, and that may
mean disaster for her.
A young girl, who is sensitive to
the fact that her home life is not
all it could be, writes this letter:
Dear Miss Lee-I am IT years old and
senior in high school this coming term.
7 am rather attractive looking and have
a pretty good disposition, and have quite
a group of friends among my classmates.
I have been having some dates during
the past winter, just for school affairs
and when some Of the girls have groups
in on Saturday nights at their homes
Miss Lee, the trouble is, I am ashamed
to have my friends come to my home 1t
is in very poor neighborhood, which
would not be SO bad if it was neat and
clean. But mother has six children and it
keeps her too busy taking care of them
to pay much attention to the house.
And with so many children. you can
imagine it is not the most quiet place
in the world. On top of that never
know when my father. is going to come
home rather tight, with group of his
friends to play cards. That does not lend
very dignifed atmosphere to the place
What I want to know is this. Would I
be justified. to quit school and go to
work SO that could room out some place
where I would not be ashamed to have
my friends call on me? love my mother
but I can not stand the atmosphere of
the home. TROUBLED.
1t is just this way, my dear. If
you quit school and left home it
would not benefit you anything.
First, because without high
school education, you could not hold
a very high-powered position.
Second, because even if you should
have a room in a more desirable
neighborhood and a nicer place, you
would not be allowed to entertain
your friends in a home where you
just had a room.
BY All Means, Stay Home
Third, because the type of bows
and girls you want to be your friends
would not think any the more of
you for leaving your own home and
family for the reasons you have
stated.
Stick to school and help your
mother all you can.
She needs you much more than
you need the things you are talk
ing of.
With your help, your mother
could make the house presentable
enough for you to bring your friends
there.
And all children are more or less
noisy.
I imagine most of your friends
have little brothers and sisters and
can understand that part of it.
By all means, stay at home and
complete your senior year.