Evening star., 1938-07-04
ance and Strong Measures Are the Price of
Patriotism
Taught to
Children
July Fourth Means
More Than Just
Firecrackers.
BY ANGELO PATRI.
WHEN those men meeting in Inde-

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pendence Hall, Philadelphia, on
that significant day in 1776 talked
over the thing they were about to do,
have no doubt that there were fear
stricken hearts among them I am
sure that one thought of what it
might do to his business. another of
what would happen to his family, an
other Of the loss of position that would
surely follow his signing that docu-
ment. There may have been some
among them who were above such
selfish thinking, but my guess is that
there were few. While life lasts a
man thinks of his own and sacrifices
what he holds dear only when he
reaches the end of his hope Yet they
all signed. One even managed a grim
joke. Yes. we must indeed, all hang
together. or, most aSsuredly, we shall
all hang separately" said Benjamin
Franklin
1t is good to remember that once
when this country's life was in the
balance there were men brave enough,
sincere enough, patriotic enough to
put their lives in the balance that
weighed their couutry'S need 1t gives
one courage to hope that the same
thing might happen again today if
the same need arose. l believe it
would. The spirit of the Fourth of
July still lives in the hearts of our
people. 1t is in the children and they
took 1t from their fathers who took
1t from their fathers in days gone by
We give ourselves a deal of worry
about the salvation of the Nation.
We still view with alarm every cleo
ton day. We still make speeches
blackening our opponents and praising
our own crowd. We make Shrlll out
cries about the dangers of this and
of that policy and foretell doom and
disaster if We do not get our way with
the Government. Still, the spirit of
Fourth of July lives on. Under the
noise of the masquerade is the sturdy
spirit Of the signers. The good of our
country though We hang for it" And
on that spirit the country goes for
ward.
But We cannot rest on this The
strongest spirit fades away unless it
Is strengthened by refreshing draughts
of praise and remembrance If our
children are not told about the un-
selhshnesS service of the forefathers
how can they carry on the tradition2
1t is imperative that We teach the
children that this country is theirs,
born of the devotion of honest. truly
patriotic men who riSked their for
tunes and their very lives in its Gre
alton. 1t is during the early days in
school that boys and girls learn the
meaning of our institutions and their
relationship to them. and one of the
very best ways of teaching them is
by telling them the stories of the
brave men and women to whom they
owe their heritage of flag and country.
The children talk this over among
themselves and they come to very
sound conclusions, too. Two little
chaps. about the fourth grade in ele-
mentary school, were talking over
what the teacher had been saying
about the signers of the Declaration
Says Tino Would you be scared to
sign a paper if you knew the king
would hang you for it?"
You bet l would" said Mario.
Il bet nobody is brave enough to
Sign it, said Tino, sad for the lack
Of such a patriot.
The two meditated for a minute and
then Tino said. Il know a fellow
that'd do it. Nate would do it. Cause
why T know it. When we broke the
roof of the greenhouse we wanted to
say we didn't do it, and he said: Nix
Well tell. If We don't the whole team
will be in bad So he told"
Did you go along?"
Sure. Wasn't on the team? Yeh.
Nate would sign like those men. And
we'd have to hang with him. You,
too"
Mr.. Patri has prepared leaflet
entitled "Convalescent Children"
in which he tells parents how to
help such children to entertain
themselves without fatigue Send
for it. addressing your request to
Mr.. Angelo Patri, Child Psychology
Department of this paper. In
close a self addressed, stamped
(3-cent) envelope.