Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-11-23
Child Learns
Leadership
By Effort
Make Him Work
To Be Prepared
For Later Life
BY ANGELO PATRI.

George Augustus is to all appear
ances a healthy boy. He is the
right weight for his height and he
eats as much as his healthy father.
The queer side of him is shown in
his unwillingness to do anything for
himself that he can wheedle, de-
mand or win anyone else to do for
him.
Ma, give me drink. Hey, Jimmy,
get that ball for me. Sis, 60 get
my sweater that I left on the porch.
Aw, Don, you work this problem for
me. I'm tired"
No, he isn't lame, nor i'll, nor
feeble -minded. He has discovered
a way of living that costs him less
and brings him more than the or
binary way of helping himself. He
likes it but nobody likes him. And
it is doing him an i'll turn for he
is falling behind his companions
in school, on the playground and
everywhere else. The boys are
leaving him out now because he
doesn't do his share, and the girls
are not looking his way because
he doesn't shine in any field.
The worst Of the situation is the
attitude Of his mother.
you see he is different" she
says. HE is smart. He gets things
done for him that other people have
to do for themselves. He has execu-
tive ability. Some day he will be
the head of some big business.
You'll see. The other children don't
have to wait on him, but they do,
because it's in him to have them do
for him"
Executives, leaders in any field,
know their jobs from the bottom
up. They have done every Job
along the line with their own heads
and hands. Leadership Is the result
of experience applied to present
problems. No experience means no
power. Those who cannot help
themselves cannot help others, much
less lead others. Saving oneself the
duty of the minute cheats oneself
of the value of personal experience,
personal knowledge of the facts,
feelings. implications of the situa-
ton. Wisdom is fed and nurtured
by first-hand experiences. The lack
of experience is the essence Of ig-
norance and helplessness.
Every ignorant. helpless person in
the world must be carried by some
intelligent. powerful and willing
worker. When dependency becomes
the way of life it becomes severe
tax on initiative, labor and labor
reward. That In itself is bad enough
in its effects on the community, but
its effect on the individual is i'm
mediate and tragic. The soul that
is dependent is destroyed.
Life is action. 1t is nourished in
action and strengthened by respon-
sibility. The soul that hears and
needs call to duty is alive and In
full growth, which means that 1t
animates and beauties a real man
or a fine woman. Duty Is the main
support of health personal and
civic existence.
To see duty, to be able to hear
its voice and fulfill its demands
ones ethical convictions must have
been developed in early youth. The
only way to develop ethical con-
cepts is in service to oneself and
others. Teach child to help him
self, then to help others, and you
set in him the first commandment
of the healthy, happy life.
Mr. Patri will give personal at
tention to inquiries from parents
and school teachers on the care
and development of children.
Write him in care Of this paper,
enclosing . three-cent stamped,
self addressed envelope for re-
uly.