Many fathers who look back in
pleasant reminiscence to their .boy
hood, when five cents wa3 worth
working an hour to earn and ai
quarter was a veritable fortune, will
regret "the present fashion. They
will remember the days when there
were no movies, no bicycles, no
gymnasia, no clubs, or any of the
other myriad interests that have be
come a part of every-day experience ;
and they will remember that with
out these alluring devices they had
rollicking times together. They can
not but look with a bit of pity up
on the lot of children who, in this
highly organized age often are mis
erable without the stimulus of ex
pensive games and totally lack with
in themselves the power of enter
tainment and interest. '
Myriad organizations are at work
to reclaim so-called bad boys. But
in the meantime the good boys are
literally going to the devil in droves
because they are being humored and
pampered by indulgent parents. The
father who in his school days wore
patches and sometimes patches on
the patches would not think of
permitting William to be , seen
among his playmates with a torn
stocking; he would fear that it
would reflect upon his own ability
to keep William clothed.
So William rapidly becomes Wil
lie. And the father who worked
enthusiastically for a bit of spend
ing money will not for a minute
permit "his bpy" to work for wages;
he's quite capable of earning all his
family needs himself, thank you!
So he gives the chappie an abund
ant allowance without ever a thought
of the near certainty that the lad
will grow up selfish and a snob.
