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Show Boys, Go Home! Aoy one walking down our business streets iu the ovening would be apt to thiok however enchantiDg poetry and fiction make the fireside, our boys are not to be misled by them. "Be it ever so humble, there is no place like home," is beautiful and gave its author merited fame, but it is not practical enough for this age. That was written in a good old day when boys and girls after a day's work were content to stay at home and read or converse with their parents. But now, "Stay at home!" Yon ought to be a man, and il you are one, you will not waste your time iu such fooli.-uness. "Read?" Reading is 0 ily for the deluded people known as "professionals," or for "book worms," "Converse with your parents?" Worse aud wor6e! Why, boy, you know more in a minute limn tbey have learned in years. What good will it do you to talk to them? "I respect them and it is my duty." Never did we hear such preposterous uotious advanced. Respect and duty in this time, when all are born free and independent and are accountable account-able to no onel You are going back to mediaeval darkness, and should not be kept in our society. Such we think may be the thoughts and perhaps remarks of many young men, who never know what home is except at meal times or for sleep. To work in the moroing without a kind thought for those who have been their beat friends, they may labor industriously and with care; home to dinner, back to work, and when released at night think themselves entitled to some recreation. So indeed they are, but not such as they seek. Up and down Main street they walk, stopping in Iront of saloons and cigar Btauds to discuss what? The news of the day, some discovery in art, a new revelation revela-tion in science, anything concerning the moral advancement of the world? No. Base-ball games, shooting matches, tcn-pim, billiards, local gossip or sensational literature only attract their attention. Later in fha evening you find them indulging in what was before discussed, adding to their weakly systems the depressing enervation of liquor and tobacco. During all Ibis time the parents at home thiuk kindly of tha absent sons, believing them too manly to indulge in any excesses and hoping tbey may soon return. They do go home, and sometimes in what conditienl Dead to the sense of shame, they stagger to bed and growl in response to a kind reproof. Continuing in this course, you know the result ruin and disgrace. dis-grace. Boys and young men, between youth and maturity, it is to you we address our remarks. You sneer. We knew you would, but that need not prevent you from giving heed. Do not think this applies to all but yourself, for your companions are in most things your equals and in many respects are superior. All this may not apply to you, but some of it does, and that part you Bhould consider seriously. With too many of you, home is a place that exists only in name. Though muoh happiness may there be found by him who seeks, it is. cold and uninviting when our baclrs are always turned. Your parents are entitled to a part of your company and should know where and with whom your time is spent. This ia not an old fogy notion, but one whose truth you will appreciate appre-ciate in after years. But if you cannot can-not love home and parents, there is a selfish consideration why you should be with them more. A young man who goes straight from work to his borne, is always noted aud epoken of well. There ia no inducement to indulge in-dulge vicious habile, and his leisure time is given to healthful pleasures. When be wants a BituAlion he readily finds one, while the other olass would apply in vain. No questions are asked as to bi character, integrity or ability. His conduct is all the reference refer-ence needed and there is no delay in securing work. Ask anyone who employs a number of young men in which he has most confidence, and you may be certain he will say the "home boy." We do not moan to sBy you mUBt always stay in the house, but be there more than you are now. Your appetite for pleasure, like tat of tho novel reader, demands something some-thing oxcitiug and unhealthy. Still that may be overcome and you will be happier and wiser. Try to cultivates culti-vates feeling so woll expressed by the unfortunate Paine, "there is no place like home." |