Evening star., 1937-05-27
AS SYOuAre
Strong Be
G e n t | e
Old Law of Chivalry
Still Practiced by
Gentlemen.
BY ANGELO PATRI,

DEAR Boys Of the Fifth Year: You
are fine and strong, quick on your
feet, fast with your hands. You can
get about as fast as squirrels and you
are as tireless as they are in your play.
You can swim and run and play ball
with the best. Your muscle Is as hard
Is q rock. You feel fine.
That Is the way a fifth year lad
ought to feel, right up on his toes.
want to point out to you that fellows
| who are so strong, who have the
strength and ability to take care OF
themselves anywhere, owe a debt Of
honor to all those who haven't the
same electric currents running through
their toes and fingers. AS you are
strong so should you be gentle
That is an old law OF chivalry. An
old law for gentlemen. The stronger
they were the gentler they were, never
using their power selfishly. They were
honor bound to consider those weaker
than themselves, to serve them. to put
OF their own concerns and take on
those Of the weaker ones and fight
their battles If need be. That was
their debt Of honor. It Is also yours.
When you come across boy weaker
than you are, one who is timid and
afraid, stand by to see him through
his troubles. Don't push him down.
stairs because he is poking slowly
ahead of you. Put your arm under
his and sort of give him lift along,
and down you 60 together easily rs
the brook runs down the hill.
II you are bright in arithmetic help
the fellow who is clubbing along. Go
! over his homework with him. You
can help him better than any teacher
can. Give him few minutes of your
time every day. He will adore you for
it and you will feel mighty good to
know it.
Girls are not to be teased, their
hair pulled, their berets pulled OF.
They haven't as much of that electric
power you have, so they don't feel 50
peppy. Salute them as you 60 by,
gayly, with laugh and q CHEEKY word.
If a girl Is in trouble Of any sort,
like trying to hold on hat and
keep coat buttoned in the face Of
the wind while both hands are full
OF books, don't laugh and knock the
books out Of her hands. Your debt
of honor Is being called in. Go to
the rescue. Take the books and carry
them until she turns the corner and
the wind blows the other way. Just
be kind.
I have a big dog. a real big one,
who could push me down with his
front paws If he wanted to. He Is
| very gentle. He moves about the
place with easy, softly padding steps.
He rarely barks. When strangers
come near the house he rises from
his place and very gently walks to-
ward them. If he thinks they qualify
for entrance he steps aside, waving his
great tail like plume.
| There is a little wire-hair who
comes avisiting. Big dog looks be-
nignly upon him, steps around him,
shakes him of when he gets too play
full with his sharp little teeth, but
never once does he offer to punish
him. One day the little wire-hair was
very annoying, Tipping his paws,
hanging on to his, thick hair, but
Sandy patiently suffered him. A big
dog came down the lane to the drive,
q very big, very ugly looking fellow.
Sandy stalked to the drive, stood across
1T, every hair on end, . deep, warn
ing growl in his throat, his teeth
barred and cleaning. Big dog stranger
gave one look then trotted along
about his business. Sandy could fight
II he needed to, you see, but he doesn't
need to- He can afford to pay his
debt OF honor. So can boy like you.
(Copyr1ght, 1879