The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1954-12-10

their children never enjoy to the
fullest the rightful heritage of
any child-its right to the love
and affection, the comfort and
inspiration its parents should give
it.
Under such conditions children
grow up frustrated, discouraged,
devoid of perception and know
ledge to wend their way through
the devious lanes of life and to
hurgeon out the best that is in
them; to get the fullest enjoyment
out of everything wholesome life
has to offer.
It seems as if one of today's
contributing factors to child de-
linquency is the lack of construc-
tive tasks and chores for the
younger people. In other days
when large families prevailed,
each child in his turn had to turn
to real labor to help support the
family. He not only was deprived
of leisure time to get into mis-
chief, but early in life the habit of
gainful labor was developed and
fixed so that in later years he
knew how to fend for himself and
earn his own keep. Thereby was
developed several characteristics
essential to a full and progressive
life, namely: resourcefullness,
courage, ability, acquisitiveness,
understanding and sympathy for
his fellowman.
There is so little in today's
method of child up-bringing to
bring out to the fullest the same
important faculties. The small
child is not permitted to work; he
believes as his parents hope, that
life should be made easier for him.
To be fair about it, modern con-
veniences leave too few things for
small people to do. Too often they
grow to adulthood without having
learned to work. When chance and
misfortune often deprive them of
parents, or customary support,
they turn to satisfying their needs
from the public purse or failing
in getting a living off the tax
payers, they turn to practices far
worse.
The situation works for evil in
many ways. Not only does the
honest, Woodworking citizen have
to work harder and pay more
taxes; but he witnesses the gall
ing spectacle of drones whom he
doesn't even know, living off his
labor and with greater ease than
himself. He also hears the taunts
of his children that they do not
have the things that other chill
dren have and his admonition that
they be frugal and industrious is
laughed to scorn under the exam
pie of his neighbor the drone,
living equally as well, or anyway
comfortably without visible exer-
else of either attribute.
Those of US who enjoyed the
many phases of a fuller child
hood life in the early years of
this century, should look with
compassion on the child of today.
This is an age which is almost as
difficult for the growing child as
it is for the adults, so many of
whom are crowding our asylums
and annoying the nation with the
darndest array of mental and
frenzies in the history
of mankind. Say what you please,
ours was a happier life than the
life of the young person today. We
could feast on the glories of ma
ture in long tramps through woods
and by streams that greedy man
has all but destroyed. We were
thrilled by the capers of the
beasts and the songs of birds that
today are all but extinct. We could
fill a large pail quickly with fish,
with a crooked pole and a
smidgeon of bait with greater ease
than the millionaire today with all
his money and high-priced guides
and boats can do. We could go out
in all sorts of weather without
in mortal fear of catch
ing cold, and be thrilled from
races along the dusty roads of
summer or the snowy lanes of
winter. We could learn the ways
of the woods now long since de-
nuded, and trap animals for pelts
that brought a paltry income but
which meant so much to young
sters who had so little.
W.