The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1932-12-17
PARENT VERSUS CHILD

Day dreaming is all wrong when 1t
becomes a constant or habitual state.
but occasional lapses into this twi-
light zone of half-conSciOuSnesS are
quite harmless and indeed sometimes
fruitful, inasmuch as the day-dream-
err comes out of it with brand new
idea. We should think of one day
dreaming as having gone fishing, and
let us hope he will have good luck.
Many scientist. inventor, author,
statesman or other creator has
stumbled upon the solution he has
long sought, in this twilight zone or
semiconsciousnesS between sleep and
waking. 1t doesn't matter whether
you do your fishing at dawn or in
the middle Of the day, the perhaps
more skill or experience Is required
to land your catch at midday.
Boys and girls at the age of puber-
ty-twelve to eighteen-are apt to do
too much day-dreaming. For two
reasons. First, the physiological tor
por, hebetude or languor of this
epoch of rapid growth and great
glanlular development-these young
persons perhaps more than any
others, need an Iodin Ration to help
them, and I am happy to send full
instructions for this to any CORE
spondent who asks for instructions
and incloses Scent stamped en-
velope bearing his or her address.
Second, and hope this catches the
eye Of every parent, uncle, aunt,
grandparent, brother, sister, teacher,
nurse or kindly boss of such mop
ing young lad or lass, at this age we
are apt to be interpretive, self
conscious, self-accusatory; we begin
to be conscious of the sex-urge in
life, and naturally curious, but I'M
fortunately We can't turn to our par
ents for the sympathy, counsel and
confidence we need. SO we just Won
der. imagine things, develop horribly
depressing convictions Of guilt which,
if we only knew, really have little or
no foundation.
Come, come, let us be fair and
frank. In the great majority of let
tiers I have had from boys and girls
who seek only the truth about these
hidden and forbidden things, only
the knowledge to which they arc
entitled, parents come in for some
we'll merited and bitter condemna-
ton.
Now I speak not alone from q COM
Portable theoretical point of view but
from experience in such day-dream-
ing as boy and also experience as
an ordinary dub parent. AS a par
ent my alibi is that my boys were all
girls. think if man is still liv-
ing with his wife when his daugh.
tiers. if any, come along to the age
of six, ten, twelve, fifteen, eighteen
he may ease himself over a tough
job by passing the buck to theil
mother. But if he is afflicted, let u.
say just for change. with any sons
then it is strictly up to him to see t.
it than his little boys get the right
kind of instruction, and If he him.
self doesn't feel capable or fit to teach
his son the least he can do is Il
deputize some one who is qualified
both by wisdom and by character, tt
do it for or with him. At the age o
five mother should begin teaching
daughter, and father should begil
teaching son, the truth, and n,
myths or vicious fairy tales.
Here I extend cordial invitation
to any boy Of any age to write to m
for any information, instruction o
advice he thinks he should have.
promise him, absolute secrecy AM
the sympathy and square shooting
believe every boy needs. OF cours
| I'll be happy to give this confiden
tial service to girls, too, II thei
mothers or other guardians say oke.