Year: 1869




The Christian Register has an article on
"The Village Loafer,'' and loafers in general,
and after very full and accurate description
OF the miserable shambing fellows who loaf
around village stores and tavelns' it says


Such is the village loater. What is to be
done with him? Is it possible to do anything
for him? He is hard case to manage. If
we cannot propose any remedy for him. we
wish to suggest preventive.


The blame for lOafng boy, who is anywhere
more at home than in his own home, belongs,
in large measure, to his parents. Young
people must have amusement; without it they
can neither work or study. Neither, when
night comes, after days work at books or a
trade or behind the counter, can they sit down
at home, like quiet old people, until bedtime.
There is certain amount of spirit, or " Young
America, that must have vent. 1t must
dance and laugh, crack jokes and make love.
1t has no idea of giving up the solid pleasure
of sentiment and fiction, Of amusement and
recreation, while fresh blood courses in its
veins. But parents overlook this necessity of
youth. If they have fault, it Is in not under
standing the fact that amusement stimulates
healthy mental activity, and that an abundance
of home pleasure creates for young people a
love and attachment for their homes, which no
amount of parental preaching about staying at
home, and not going away to spend the even
ings, will ever succeed in bringing about. In
village homes there is to much hard work and
too little play; too little evening society; too
little hospitality; too little provision for the en-
tertainment of the boys and girls. The parlor
is hardly once warmed for the long winter; the
table is never spread for young company the
companions of the children are not made free
| to run in, and spend the evening with games
and music; there is no dancing in the large
| dinin0- there arc no oard. Of ron
sonable hours, in the presence of parents and
grandparents-a presence so sacred that ii
should regulate times, manners and habits.


Now these amusementS young pc lple viii
find out and have They cannot be kept from
them. Try all the expedients you please, anC
they will learn how to play cards. and will gC
to dancing parties and stay out late. Unless
they can have these amuSements and other
still of more innocent and child like nature
at their own homes, they will have them else


where They will go to disreputable places
mingle with exceptiOnable company, carry thei


amusements to excess, and contract along will
them vicious and degrading habits. Give tn


girls liberty to invite in their companions, ono


week, to spend an evening in dancing, o


singing or games. Let the boys have the sam


privilege. Smile upon them. Don't let then


feel that you have a kind of holy horror o


these things, but encourage them by providing
; a little entertainment. 1t will disturb tn
house, make work, be tiresome; perhaps, ad
: trihe of expense. But which had you rath
, er have, the noise and. trouble of party one
week, or night after night of anxiety, watcf
ing and waiting for your boys to come HON


from the saloon and shops? Which do yO
prefer, dancing party at home, or to hav
your young people at the tavern " ball, unit
D morning?


! Neither is it enough for you to make no o(
J lection to having amusements at home. YC
), must encourage them, and not fail to proviC
them. 1t must be a duty to make home no
q = pitable, attractive to the young, free for Z
= proper festivities.