OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11151, 25 August 1899, Page 3

OUR BOYS AND GIRLS.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— an "ancient" who has been the father of a numerous family, I have been rutlier amused at arguments pro and con on the subject of tho Auckland boys and girls. Barring the absence of the organ of veneration, I think our girls (place aux dames) and hoys are a great improvement on those of their predecessors, and I attribute this to the free education and other advantages this city affords "Familiarity breeds contempt," is a well-known adage, and there is no doubt that the comparatively small houses occupied, throws the children into too frequent company of their elders, and they hear and see what it were better they should not. I do not think it is all the fault of their parents, but of the circumstances I have named, frequent outings at- night for religious and other meetings, and the passion for sports of varied descriptions. Their earning powers are superior to what they are at Home, rendering them more independent and uncontrolled at an earlier age than used to be in our time. At the same time, it in many instances fills them with a creditable ambition to raiso themselves beyond their parents' position. We can here show many examples of young men and women rising from liumblo to important positions. On the whole, I think there is an improvement that is creditablo to our community, if one could only see the grand commandment, "Honour thy father and mother, that, thy days may be long in tho land the Lord thy God giveth thee," more strictly and more affectionately observed.—l am, etc., Parent. August 24, 1899.