Evening star., 1937-06-01

Rules Of
The Game
Apply Prin ciple to
Daily Life and
Contacts.
BY ANGELO PATRI.

CHILDREN have to learn the rules
OF whatever activity they choose.
For beginners the rules are not only
guides, they are lifesavers. They pre-
vent mistakes, failure and discourage
| ment. They are always there ready
for use whenever called on. and they
always are the right answer.
The rules I mean are those laid
down By custom and law. There
are the rules for mathematics These
are unfalling stand-bys. helps in time
of doubt, They can be relied upon
for light and aid always. There are
the rules for games. They make play
possible, for without them the games
would be mass Of confusion without
| rhyme or reason. Nobody could win
| and everybody would lose, which Is
| the reason for the rules.
Some children dislike the rules.
They want to get beyond them, beat
them somehow. not knowing that
| there is no way of beating rule If
| 1t IS an accepted rule. To be sure.
one could cheat, but then. there's the
end Of the matter as far as the game
is concerned. The cheater does not
win the game because he doesn't play
it. He is worse off than before be-
cause added to the loss of the game is
the loss of character. A cheater feels
that loss keenly. He may try to hide
it. but that is impossible. His loss
cries aloud to high heaven and his
companions leave him to his own
grief.
Good sportsmanship demands that
the players of any game abide cheer
fully by the rules and take whatever
luck comes in good part. But what
or who laid down the laws for good
craftsmanship? The good players.
those who understood the law that
governs games and men. Play fair;
abide by the rules accept what comes,
cheerfully. So you will achieve honor
among men and q feeling of liking
for yourself.
A man cannot live happily and not
like himself. Two warning spirits in
one person scarcely have room for
disagreement. you see. and there most
certainly will be disagreement If a
person, young or old, offends himself
by breaking the rules, any rules, that
call for sportsmanlike obedience.
Sometimes boys and girls think that
rules are silly. Some of them may
be. some are. most of them are essen
tial to the welfare and happiness Of
these very boys and girls. AS they
are highly inexperienced n such mat
ters, and as it is difficult for their
parents and teachers to explain the
need and the value Of many Of these
rules, it would be better for the chill
dren to accept the good will OF their
guardians. take their word for it and
abide by the rules.
Review a few Of them and see.
Speak the truth. No child would deny
the rightness of that rule Respect
the property, the feeling, the rights.
even the opinions Of other people
Why not? You want others to re-
spect yours. Reverence the works Of
God. That means every living thing,
every mysterious growth and power
In Nature. 1t means your body and
mind and the bodies and minds Of
other young people. A decent respect
for the works OF God will keep you
from making regrettable mistakes and
add greatly to your happiness.
Respect for the aged: respect for
the work of others; dealing as kindly
with others as you would be dealt
with in turn-these are rules Of living
that call for cheerful abedience and
are rewarded by success and happi-
ness.
Learn the simple rules Of living,
and abide by them in school, at home,
abroad. and you will be success
wherever you CO.
Copyright, 1879