The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1937-05-01
READ AND REFLECT
This concerns you.


The most serious problem confront
ing the city of Key West, is not the APP
preaching speculative era, the water ques-
ton, or the invasion Of the trailers when
the highway becomes an open road.
1t is the problem of supplanting the
idlenes which is destroying the youth of
oui city like a malignant cancer with
wholesome activity which will develop
character and strength of mind and body
Merely offering these boys and girls
entertainment, amusement and exercise, is
poor substitute for productive industry
and the building of the self-respect and
integrity that accompanies creative work.
Amusement and exercise has an important
place in the development of mind and
body but they will not, by themselves,
meet the need. To great extent, these
things have useful function in Tending
off degeneration, but the American charac-
ter was not built on any such foundation.
To the credit of human nature. be it
said, it has never been satisfied to chop
wood without seeing the chips fly Chill
dren do not have the wisdom that comes
with experience, but they do have the OBJ
servation that comes by instinct; and eff
forts to "amuse them to keep them out of
mischief does not appeal to their innate
intelligence; it is more likely to evoke
poorly concealed disregard for the fumb-
ling philanthropist who is doing the best
he knows how, but whose best is not good
enough.
And this is not written in any deroga.
ton of the work of the Scout Masters, the
Cadet movement, or the constructive work
of such organizations as the DeMolays.
But, just what can the Key West lad
who wants to begin pulling his own weight
in the boat, do in Key West? If his elders
are too ease-loving to help him get start,
who is to blame if the lad hangs around
the clubs, is an easy victim of the slot ma
chimes which invite him to gamble in al
most every store, or pins his hopes on
lucky number since there seems to be
no legitimate way open of making dol
lar for which due consideration was re-
turned?
An enterprising stranger, noting the
Strawberries grown in holes in the sides of
barrels, by bridge tender at Clearwater,
sets up some frames ON the Tamiami Trail
in Miami and is reported as having clean
ed up over four thousand dollars last sea-
son from the product of one or two city
lots. Many boys in Key West could make
wages in their back yards, if the right man
showed them how.
The raising of poultry products has
becor'" an interesting science and, in many
cases, Big Business" and Key West comes
no where near supplying the home demand
Ia demand which will be doubled next
winter. We heard something about Boys
Poultry Club" from the Rotary Club some
time ago; but apparently the sound has
died away. Has no one in Key West any
time or any money to invest in Key West
citizens of tomorrow?
The situation begets laxity in man
ners, morals and responsibility. Like
father, like SON.; and until it is remedied,
Key West has no future except as health
resort for alien visitors, for these boys will
set the standard of living for Key West
people in the near future.
That nothing involving any energy is
contemplated by representative citizens, is
demonstrated by the calm acceptance of
unimpeded change, based on any whim,
from the public schools to the San Carlos
Institute, and vice versa. Have we a
Juvenile Court? Is the shooting of birds
a misdemeanor. Can the boy find an out
let for his energy. Or, shall be just let
things rock along?