Confidential Chats with Boys

by William Lee Howard

But we must not blame the country boys for flocking to these shows. It is very tempting bait held out for their dimes and nickels. The boy’s life on the farm is devoid of many of the harmless pleasures given to the city boy. There are no places where he and his companions may gather—no boys’ clubs, no gymnasiums. But worse than all his parents seem to lack knowledge of what such a lad needs in the way of real instruction concerning life, of the dangers of associating with the girls brought from the cities to fleece and disease them, and to the dangers around the “White Cities” and other public places, which the most innocent lad is liable to fall into.

These boys are to be pitied and not blamed for their sad ends, for it is a fact that in the country towns, especially in New England, there are more useless youths than can be found anywhere else in the land. The harvest of the quacks is gathered from the country boys and girls.

For the boy who is to stay on the land there is but one thing to do. Farming being his vocation, he must fit himself to get the best out of his farm. This he can do by attending an agricultural school. No matter if your parents do scoff at scientific farming; you must get out of the old rut and show them their error. The boy must when he returns to the farm during his vacation, realize that he is being given brain-tools,—his education,—and not to dull these delicate instruments he will have to avoid all evil companions and shows. He can demonstrate by this attitude that his mental powers are developing and that he is ABOVE those chaps who loaf around the store telling the latest stories and of what they saw at “The Pavilion.”

It is your duty, as a growing man, to set this example. From a sense of duty it will become a pleasure. It is only by such examples we can save the thousands of country boys, for many of them, perhaps most of them, will see a new light and a future; something that has not yet come into their vision. You will find that taking a leading part in your community will be far beyond any sport you formerly found at the shows and dances, that you are growing in mind, spirit and power. The boys who refuse to follow your example will be those whom you hire, when they are sober, to cut your wood or pitch your hay. And all of them will have had your opportunities.

To the boy who has wealth or knows he will have it, there is little to say. If such a youth does not use his wealth to develop his powers to their highest degree and also assist in every possible way the progress of the world, there is nothing but universal condemnation. The world to-day has no place for the mere spendthrift and idler. A man of wealth has the right to live as luxuriously and well as he likes, but he has no right to allow his brain to sink to nothingness or by example lower the thinking powers of his fellow men. It does not make much difference what kind of work a man of wealth does, so long as WHAT he does aids instead of hinders his fellow men.

Thousands of boys have been made into MEN through the training they have received in the navy. Most of these youths went from homes where never a word of what should have been told them was uttered. Especially so is this true of the country boys. Their fathers took a colt as soon as it was old enough and commenced to train it, give it good manners and see that it was kept from running wild and with the mares. He took pride in daily making it step lively and surely. He saw that its food was of the best, and proudly drove it around the neighborhood.

But his SON was allowed his own way, never taught to keep in the right road, never controlled, never confidentially considered. If such a boy went into the navy, he received the training needed, but which his PARENTS would have neglected. Those who have received the fatherly instruction of the navy have been turned out well-mannered, given the best of health and the knowledge of how to keep it. And do not make the mistake too often made that the navy takes unruly boys, those SENT away from home or the riff-raff from the cities. The navy will not accept such useless stuff.

If for no other reason I am a believer in a bigger navy, for it seems to me the only way we can control and bring to full and decent manhood the thousands of neglected youths throughout the land. Trained, having a vocation, worldly-wise, but not evil or sneaking, these youths are exerting a good example wherever they locate after leaving the service. They bring their brain-tools ashore with them and use them, take care of them and know the fearful results of an immoral life.

So I say to you boys who cannot decide upon just what you want to do, yet know that you must do something, try the navy. There you will find several vocations from which to pick and be trained in. You will obtain a knowledge of the world, broaden your intellect and secure perfect health. When you come out you will be fitted to do something. If you remain home hanging around, you will probably end in being a helpless man—in more ways than one.

Yes, helpless in mind and perhaps limbs. Why? Because the boy who goes through the public schools and then out into the world runs imminent danger of being ruined for life through one fact—HE HAS NEVER BEEN TOLD THE WHOLE TRUTH ABOUT LIFE.