Evening star., 1938-01-28
Frightening
Experience
oParent
Love of Experiment
Causes Boys to do
Startling Things.
BY ANGELO PATRI,

RoYs In their early teens do un-
expected, even startling things
that apparently have no sane rea-
son in them, yet which. If one could
find the cause, are reasonable enough.
They may be wrong ideas, even dan
gerous, but they grew out Of . situa-
ton that the boy had to face and
solve. In his inexperience and under
pressure. he did the queer thing that
excited his family and friends. Given
time he can explain.
Two boys were left fatherless. Their
mother did her best to take the fathers
place, and to rear the boys as she
thought he might have done. II try
always to give them as much room for
self-direction as I can. They must
learn how to fend for themselves, to
know right from wrong in their own
conscience. Sometimes they make
mistakes; often I do, but this last
experience has convinced me that we
are on the right road. But 1t was q
terrible one I can tell you.
Peter, he Is the older of the two,
goes to prep school, . day scholar.
There are many boys there who have
had a great deal of freedom. and who
boast about the things. the very many
things, they do. I think that was
where Peters notion started.
I'VE were at dinner when the bell
rang. I heard Ellen open the door;
heard mans voice, then Ellen's raised
In arguement. I went to the door.
I've . case Of beer here for you,
madam. The girl says it was not
ordered he said.
"'It wasn't. There is . mistake.
I told him.
"'No, mother, that's all right said
Peter coming down the hall. I
ordered that case OF beer for myself.
Take it into the kitchen, please. Ellen,
II! have bottle Of it with my dinner.
Il felt myself grow pale. Ny heart
choked me and I almost leaned
against the wall, but I managed to
hide it and 60 back to the table. Peter
seemed to take it all as matter Of
course. He poured out the beer.
tasted 1t, then said, Will you have
some. mother?'
mo- I said, I don't like it,
peter took another mouthful:
swallowed it thoughtfully, licked his
mouth, tasted q couple Of times and
said. I don't see anything about that
to 60 to town for
Let me taste it, said little John.
'Ooch! What stun. It's sour as swill.
1.-THE fellows at school. Dinny and
the crowd. told me 1t was swell and
that they drank loads Of it every meal
time. They can have it,
THAT was all for that, but I was
never so frightened In all my life.
But 1t was worth it. know now that
beer won't have any thrills for Peter.
1t will be just another drink and one
that he can do without. If I had
made 4 scene and sent the beer back
he would have resented it and felt
that he had been afYronted and treated
like IN infant. You see I've been
trying to make him head the house
- his father would have done, and
had to see 1t through"
Sometimes . boy does something
that frightens his people. but which,
upon investigation, is only . demon
stration Of interest, an experiment.
Move slowly where you cannot see the
way.
Mr.. Patri has prepared Q leafiet
entitled, Spelling" in which he tells
parents how to successfully help chill
dren with their spelling lessons. Send
for 1t, addressing your request to Mr..
Angelo Patri, Child Psychology De-
partment of this paper. and inclose 4
self-addressed, stamped (3-cent) en-
velope. /
(copyright. 1885,