Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 172, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 July 1911 — The Boy at Home [ARTICLE]

The Boy at Home

In the midst of his greatest excitements and enjoyments there ought to be a steady and perceptible pull at his heartstrings In the direction of home; and there will be, unless there Is something very much the matter with him or the home; and if the trouble Is with him It probably began with the home. There was a welcome for him when heflrst took his place as a member of that family. That welcome must await him whenever he returns from work or play or school. If his arrival Is greeted with complaints and nagging about what he has and has' not done, he will maA his arrival as late and his departure as early as possible; and he will take his permanent departure as speedily as bls circumstance will permit. He Is a distinct part of the household and Is entitled to a definite, place where he can be monarch of all he surveys. He has as much right to a room, with decorations suited to his tastes, as his sister, even more so, for she has certain other home ties through which she may be satisfied and trained*. His* individuality requires an Individual room and his social life needs fl" place where he can bring his friends; and his talents may be encouraged to decorate It. His stored up energies demand exercise and no* every room In the house Is suited to It It’is mighty comforting to him to know that there Is one room where he is at homo with himself. - He Is also entitled to a position in the household as well as to a place in the house and his standing must be In thblr understanding. If he gets the right standing he Is willing to do a lot of running, for the benefit of the family. It Is not enough to say that he must work because some one else Is the bread winner and he ought to be willing to do something. Another motive must be touched, that he Is a part of the household and what be can of the highest value In itself. And so It is. Manual labor has mental and moral value; and when special talents are utilised It gives a special training for his life work. And when they are used tn the equipment of the home, he derives a special, reward from It Drawing, the graphic arts, mnslc, modeling, writing, reading aloud, reciting—these may have a productive place In his home life. He has to be allowed to be his awn self and do what he can do. That standing is not at the center nor is it sitting on the throne, but by •e side or under the wing of the head of the home. He is a boy, but only a boy. He holds the future, but must bo hold, at present. Ho is not to be a

prig, an overfed pet; nor a pig, overfed pork; nor a despot, an over-in-dulged dependent Her Is not the center about which the family revolves nor a despot adapting it to his caprices. When a boy rules the home he ruins himself. He Is to be adjusted to the family life and not the reverse. He may be a bom ruler, but Is to be under regents tin he comes into his own Inheritance and thereby learns how to rule. But, In that subordination, he Is entitled to find respect for his personality, his talents, his Individual tastes, his elemental and God-given right of choice, on the proper exercise of which his efficiency In life depends. ffiven from the start, his will must not be over ridden, but stimulated and steered. If there is a dash between his will and that of the household head, all that the latter can do Is to set forth the penalty of the wrong choice, let him have all the facts of the case before him tn the decision, let him know that the penalties cannot be escaped. The plans for him must be positive, constructive, optimistic, sympathetic; not negative nor destructive nor gloomy nor autocratic. Those plans are adapted to him and adapt him to the home people. He and his pa can do team work, as he assists with manual or mental or mechanical labor—with typewriter or at bookkeeping or garden making or farming. And yet, often must obedience be exacted of him, without explanation or option; and he must know what that authority means. Ordinarily, when his sense of partnership with his parent* has Intelligently and practically murtured, he gets discipline and delight, efficiency and satisfaction, out of It it is a whole university In embryo, with technology thrown In. Even the care of pets Is of great importance in teaching him gentleness and unselfishness and sense of responsibility. They ■make use of the whole boy in ths* way. His imagination comes to the aid of the family. To call a boy good for nothing and laxy, just because he dreams; Is a degradation of the one who says it To accuse him of doing wrong 1b to suggest to his Imagination that form of wrong doing. He must be trusted and have the exhilarating sense of It, as they trusted the boys at Rugby. Hb must find In the spirit of the home makers the spirit Into which he will grow, more and more. He must find knowledge of delicate things in a way that will not excite unwholesome curiosity. He must be filled with admiring love for the home makers and take his place by their side tn love for the Father d