Jasper County Democrat, Volume 19, Number 95, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 February 1917 — YOUR BOY’S CHUM [ARTICLE]

YOUR BOY’S CHUM

If you are a father, are you acquainted with your boy ! s chum? Do you know him to be fit company for your son? Every nortnal boy has singled . out from his friends and acquaintances one particular chum., This chum is his "other self,” all of the "othar self” he will have until years of maturity develop in him the sex attraction.

T If you have studied boy nature, or even if you can recall your own boyhood days, you must know that they are the days wherein the lasting impressions of life are formed. It is also the period when the domination of a strong personality is most potent for good or evil over a weaker or more plastic nature. Have you studied your boy’s chum? It may be almost as necessary as a study of the boy, himself. Is that chum all you cou|h wish him to be? Is he stronger, or weaker, of purpose and character than your boy? If stronger, all 'the more reason for you to know his real character, for he is as sure to impress his personality upon your son as that strength overcomes weakness. j The boy rarely develops habits or traits of character acquired’ I from mere chance acquaintances or from strangers, ft is from his in- ■ tima’es that he absorbs' ideas that 1 eco ne fixed in the mind and develops into character. Hence the imperative necessity that those intimates be of right character. Some think it is a risky business to attempt to regulate a son s friendships. Admittedly so, yet you have, it in your power To tn a large degree control the matter. Every normal boy has great respect for his father, provided that father is deserving of his respect.. The first step, therefore, is to secure and deserve the boy s confidence. This accomplished, a little tactful consideration on your part, together with a personal interest in his every day life, ought to give you control over the situation. But the surest way to control the matter is to constitute yourjself the boy's chum. This can be ■done if the matter is taken iij hand early in the boy s life. To every ,young boy his father is a model of perfection. His first boyish ambition is to imitate father. If that father is deserving of imitation and will cultivate his boy’s confidence, the problem is, solved. . ' ■■■<';■ ■•■-'■ ■ Every father should seek first place in his boy's confidence. He should make certain that he stands higher in the boy’s regard than all others. And as the years pass he should see to it that the bond is strengthened instead of weakened. BiM this can only be done by fully [entering into the life o.f the boy a*nd by making his life your life. It will pay better than apy other investment you can make.