Evening star., 1935-09-20
|ActiVeLiving
Is Demanded
For Growth
Worth While Duties
Associated With
Responsibility.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

IFE is action. Only the sleeping
- and the dead are still. Nature has
ordained that every thought that
crosses the threshold Of the mird
shall be expressed in action, or q
penalty paid. That penalty is exter-
mination.
Work out your salvation or die" is
the law. If you have an idea, do
something about it. If you have a
wish, work it out. Keep moving or
pass out.
Little children are born active A
2-year-old child can tire household
of adults in half day. This constant
activity wearieS older people and they
keep saying, Hush! Be still! Step
that! Go out if you must make that
noise. Can't you ever be still?"
After a few years Of this child
begins to Alieve that the right way
to live is the still way. If ne is still
he will be called good and that is
highly desirable.
There is happy medium here as
everywhere. Useless, pointleSS ACTIVITY
is waste Slumber in the MONDAY
of life is the end of all hope. Some
where between there is safety, promise
and success. 1t is the business o.
teachers and parents to find thar
place where waste leaves of and
growth through activity begins.
Teach little children to do some
worth while thing in the house every
day at fixed time. That teaches re-
sponsibility and the need for service
Teach the older ones to work out their
plans hopes and wishes, and so test
the value of the ideas and their own
powers at the same time.
When a boy says, II wish I had a
wagon; could haul the groceries in
stead of carrying them" don't rush
to buy him one. Tell him that you
| think it a good idea and ask what he
is going to do about it. Give him the
idea, right at the start, that he is
the one to do something about his
own wants and his own schemes. If
he learns that all he has to do is
wish out loud and you bring the an
swer, why should he act in the mat
ter? Yet action is his salvation Self
help is the road to self-development
and success.
One day Carl. child who never
waited upon himself if he could help
it, complained that the man in TIE
sweet shop was selling chocolate pars
that had been cut for the full price
Carl liked his cholocate. We'll. what
do you expect me TO do about it?"
said his teacher, unfeelingly Carl
told me about it. Too bad said I.
what are you going to do about it?"
Il thought I'd tell you.' said he.
We'll, you did, said I, but ne will
keep on selling you cut chocolate bars
just the same, won't he?" Then he
tried the yard teacher, who said, I've
got plenty to bother me without your
troubles. Attend to them yourself
why don't you?"
After few days Of futile grunting
Carl called a meeting of chocolate oar
lovers, told them what he thought ara
felt and suffered. They formed COM
mittee and made Carl the head. He
had to go to the shop and make the
man understand that he would sell
no more chocolate bars to them un-
less they got full measure. l never
saw boy struggle so to avoid action
in his own behalf. Once having
caught the idea, he worked On it and
gradually got into his stride.
Self-activity is the law of growth
Nobody can grow for anybody else.
Either one grows in activity or ore
passes out in silence and oblivion.
Keep the children going forward,
helping themselves, helping each
other, growing alive and happy.