Milford chronicle., 1930-04-04
THE TALKING HABIT.

THE VALhING HABIT
Some of the older folks were
speaking the other day about the
silent manners of their young peo-
pie. One lady said she found it very
difficult to get anything out of her
son in regard to his activities. Others
had a similar feeling about their
young folks.
One lady who has had large fam
ily of children and knows many
young people intimately, said that
the younger generation think the
older people talk too much.
Sitting around and talking was
one of the chief diversions in former
days. 1t seemed to take the place OF
automobile driving, the movies, etc.
People seemed to find endless pleas
ure in all kinds Of talk. Much of it
was frivolous gossip, but a great
deal of it was earnest discussion
about politics, religious, morals
home town affairs, business, philoso-
ply, books, and everything else. Peo-
ple would talk for couple of hours,
and would then part we'll satisfied
with themselves, remarking that they
had settled all the affairs of the
world.
This talking habit produced good
conversationalists, and it was a very
inexpensive diversion. 1t costs moth
ing to sit around and talk. And it
makes people very intelligent on
public questions. But it often pro-
duced an incapacity for action. Peo-
ple would talk and talk, when they
ought to be doing something active.
The young people do not seem SO
inclined toward this talking habit.
They want to be doing something II
can be objected that they miss the
mental development that comes from
good conversation, and that tney
have to be spending money all the
time in order to enjoy themselves
Yet their incessant activity produces
a greater power to do things than
the older people ever had.
SeS
RECRUITS FOR THE GANGS
Chicago, New York, and various
large cities are having hard strug-
gle to keep down the gangs OF gun
men who infest those great centers.
Communities that have no such man
ifestations of crime congratulate
themselves that they are relatively
free from these pests. Still, potent
cal criminals are sometimes deVe1-
oping in their own neighborhoods.
Wherever there are lawless boys
who think they can live without
work. there is chance for recruits
for the new and growing under
world.
The amazing thing about the bandit
and gunman element is the youth OF
these fellows. Apparently half Of
them are not much over 21 years Of
age. older men know the folly of a
course that is sure to land them in
prison. But there is an age when
Young fellows think they know more
than any older person.
Lack of home discipline is said to
be the cause why many boys go
wrong. Some of these cases might
have been saved by an old fashioned
session with father in the woodshed'
if there is any woodshed left now.
But the young fellows are very IN
dependent. Excessive severity might
drive some boys to run away from
home.
The first steps along the down
ward path occurr when the boys join
.lawless gangs in their own neighbor-
hoods. Then is the time when some
one should get busy. If parents
can't control them themselves, they
would better ask advice.
Many of these boys go wrong be-
cause there is no chance in their
neighborhoods to play games. Some
Of them could be Strengthened out if
some teacher could find time to give
them special assistance in school,
and help them keep up with their
classes. Some of them would be cor
rected if they could be provided
with a job and shown how to earn
and save money. There is way to
the heart of every boy, if someone
could only find it.