LET YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE RECREATION.

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 8989, 14 May 1890, Page 7

LET YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE RECREATION.

' Daisy Rhodes Campbell. A lady declared to a friend of mine not long since that her daughter, nineteen years of age had never read a novel, and that this was the way to bring up daughters in this fast and wicked age. Her friend disagreed with her. Two or three days later that same girl—a bright, wide-awake creature — came to the friend’s house. She sauntered np to the large and well-filled book-case, and, as she glanced over the titles of the books, said : * I’ve never read one of Dickens’, or Thackeray's, or Cooper’s, or Hawthorne a —no, nor Miss Mulook s, or George Elliot’s works.’ The friend said she supposed she preferred histories and biographies. ‘ Ob, no, indeed, not that dry fluff, whoa I can get out of It,’ she replied, laughing, and then named over a list of French novels she had read—books any good or modest woman ought to blush to peep into. Another instance came to my knowledge of an eminent Methodist divine bringing his eon to a certain college. The pupils boarded around town instead of in the college buildings. In much evident anxiety, the father begged a Mr G. to take the boy into his own lamily, adding: ‘I want yon to promise never to lose sight of him. He has absolutely no knowledge of the world or its evil ways. Tom has been kept remarkably free from all contact with other boys. We have had private tutors for him, and he has always keen carefully watched.’ Mr G. reminded tbe gentleman that he had dally business of his own which demanded bis attention, and could not promise to under take such a difficult and responsible task. He also remonstrated with the clergyman upon bringing up a boy in this way, who must meet the world and mingle with all kinds of men. They differed decidedly, and the father left Tom with a heavy heart. And no wonder-- it was like turning loose a young colt which bad heretofore been tied up. Before a month was ovei, the boy bad been sharply reprimanded by the'faculty, then a second time, and when the Eastet holidays arrived, he was sent home ns Incorrigible. Some kind little w*.man sighed over him and eaid : * Poor boy, it was wicked companions who led him ostray. What a pity, he had not been kept at home 1’ What a pity, rather, when at home he had not been allowed more liberty with wise and sympathetic supervision, sent to school with other boys, and with his father’s approbation and help, had wise and proper entertainment. , j Young people must have amusement and recreation ; it is natural, and when nature is thwarted, it will revenge itself by branching out dwarfed' and disfigured. No, mothers and mingle with your girls, and especially, with your boys j , enter into their games ; win their love and confidence ; and the result will richly repay you. Read their books, and they will be more likely to read yours, and talk with them abont their reading. It takes some trouble and time, but it is time well-spent. Provide them with games at home, and take an interest in them yourselves. These boys and girls were not 'given to ns to shirk and turn off, or to misunderstand and rule with an iron band. It is a grievous mistake to indulge and pamper our children, but is it not as great a one to refuse to remember our own youthful days, and insist on cur gay, merry youth turning into old men and women in a flash? It is not the novels, cards, and _ dancing that bring boys to destruction ; it is the want of control, the wrong way of using innocent and healthful recreations. Teach children, line upon line, the duty of self-government and restraint. Boys canuot be kept in a glass case for ever. There must come a time when they will meet temptation and evil, Tbe practically religious way is to prepare them to resist it, not by keeping everything from them that might lead to evil, but by a wise and moderate use of the gifts tent to ns.

Do we not wifh onr children to look upon ue as their friends and best advisers, sn-i is

it natural for them to do so if we are unsympathetic and forbid them amusements which are their legitimate right ? Depend upon it, they will either deceive ns, or, if too conscientious for that, barriers will arise between ns, and their youthful days will be embittered'and filled with a sense of injustice and wrong.