Evening star., 1941-04-08
ason Fgurave Hall of Shame Lists Requirements for Membership
Let Children
Be Members
OfClubs
Belonging Means
Same to Them
AS to Adults
By AngeI0 Pafri

Nv hUstiV 0ff
There are some grown-up peo-
pie who scott at children's love OF
badges and uniforms and who make
the children wearing them feel silly
and too childish for their age. These
short-memoried folk are wrong, and
their expression of scorn in the
presence of the children is an un-
kind if not an injurious influence
in the lives of the children.
In order to reach the full stat
ure of maturity children 60 through
a sequence of changes each useful
to the healthy growth Of the next,
each discarded in its turn, its pur-
pose having been served. Every boy
and girl loves to belong to special
group, with certain clear under
standing of their purposes, but with
many vague feelings of security and
contentment in the association dif-
ficult to set down in words. Il
like it," is about their expression
of a deep peace. 1t is enough as
long as the association promotes
character growth.
Years ago many girls wore tiny
silver Maltese cross and a bow OF
purple ribbon to indicate that they
were Kings Daughters, pledged TO
look up and not down; forward, not
back, and lend a hand in His
name Those girls were strength
ened in righteousness, encouraged
in good living, and they liked it.
Then there was the bow of white
ribbon for the temperance workers
and the pin for the Band OF Hope.
Those badges and the pledges behind
them did a great deal of good in the
lives of the boys and girls who be-
longed. They took deal of teasing,
if not worse from those who did not
belong, but they held their own and
they, too, liked it."
Belonging to group, sharing
common ideals is a necessity for
children between the ages of 7
and II.
Today our most prominent groups
are the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts and
Campfire Girls. They wear their
uniforms and their badges proudly.
and they do fine work. They need
the approval and praise of their
elders, and a bit of substantial
help would be greatly appreciated
by their leaders.
This work for young people is
taken too much for granted by the
community, and every one who is in
terested in the character growth
of children, in the ideals instilled
In American youth should make
himself acquainted with the idea
and bring support to it. We will
talk a lot about the failure of youth
to achieve our ideals, but few OF us
as much as cross the street to give
a good word or dollar to these
associations who are promoting
those ideals year in and year out.
This is because grown people have
such short memories of their own
Youthful needs. They forget how
happy gathering of two or three
in a hut in the woods used to
make them: what thrills postofflce
| in an old stump or a stone wall
uSCu W VI ulk W IllC AAttAC SAOhP
who knew the secret, the pride they
took in belonging; the exaggerated
care of the bow and the badge,
placed where it could not possibly
escape attention.
The little cross, the button, the
pin. the knot of ribbon, the uni
form and the insignia mean the Joy
of life to these children. II would
be a grievous mistake not to under
stand and promote their ideals and
| their service.
What the Rotary and the Y and
other fraternal organizations are
to mature men and women, these
associations of children mean to
childhood and early youth. II your
children do not belong" to one of
| them, why not? And il you have
overlooked them, why? 1t is fine
| to belong.
Mr.. Patri has prepared Ieaf1et