CONDUCT COMPETITION.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 365, 5 March 1932, Page 18 (Supplement)

CONDUCT COMPETITION.

Three Thoughtful Entries. Some interesting entries came forward showing that the writers had a clear sense of right and wrong as society at present expects them to have. Now if you have a flaw of character that you wish you didn’t have, don’t sit down and accept it; plan to remove it from you. The easiest way to do this is always to think of the opposite thing in your spare thinking. If you have a bad temper, think and ponder about a good temper. If you are untruthful, meditate upon truth. You always grow according to your thoughts, you know. If you think about trouble you get it. If you think about success, and truth, and beauty, they will come to you quite surely. Now what about doing a little improving? Sort out the things you’d like to be and keep on keeping on thinking about them! The prize was awarded to the youngest competitor with a really good entry. Special comment is given to Gladys Lawson and Ultan Sullivan also. Prize-winner: JUNE WILLCOX (eleven years). Address wanted. The prize will be posted. GOOD HABITS. 1. To endeaY’Our to always keep your temper. 2. To always be punctual to the minute. 3. To be truthful in all things. 4. To form habits of industry. 5. Not to make a promise if you can not keep it. 6. To be courteous at all times to eY’eryone. 7. To think before you speak. 8. Not to put off until to-morrow what you can do to-day. . 9. Early to bed, early to rise. 10. To be honest in all our dealings. BAD HABITS. 1. To get angry quickly. 2. To always be late. 3. To be untruthful. 4. To be lazy. 5. To be unreliable. 6. To be rude. 7. To be hasty. 8. To procrastinate. 9. To be slothful. 10. To be dishonest. June Willcox. WHAT TO DO. 1. The first important habit is to be obedient to those over you. Make it a habit of doing the right thing. 2. Children should be polite to their elders. , , 3. Be mannerly. Those who show that they know their manners are taken more notice of than those who are careless about their manners and are forward. 4. “Do unto others as you d have them do unto you”; this is the golden rule and should stop you from saying or doing anything to your neighbour which you would not like done to you. 5. Being tidy is a big thing. Make it your aim to be neat and clean in yourself. 6. Always be kind. You can always give a helping hand or do something to help others along in this world of strife. ... . .v 7. “ What is worth doing is worth doing well." Now this certainly will help you to be good. You will not be scolded for careless work if this rule be taken seriously. 8. Give what you can to others. Do not see your neighbour in need if you can help him in any manner, shape or form. 9. Always be active—do not be lazy. Each and everyone of us can find plenty to do in this world of work. 10. Last but not least, be respectful to your parents, teachers, etc.; and if you keep—l mean strictly keep—these few rules, you will make an excellent model of good conduct.

WHAT NOT TO DO. 1. If you persist in making disobedience a habit it will certainly lead you ii to trouble. 2. If selfishness is allowed to grow strong it, too, leads to trouble and will rob you of your friends. 3. Careless is a thing to be avoided if you wish to keep out of trouble s *^4. k ßeing unmannerly and cheeky will lead you into many a scolding from your parents and teachers. 5. Untidiness will lead to many a lecture from those OY T er you. 6. Untruthfulness will lead you farther into the depth of trouble. 7. Dishonesty and trouble you will find walk hand in hand. S. Jealousy is a germ which should be killed outright, otherwise it will become \ r ery dangerous indeed. 9. Unkindness will lead you into trouble, too, if allowed to grow and strengthen and not checked and killed at once. 10. Lastly, being wilful is the worst

thing anyone can practise, let alone make a habit of, and it should be guarded against. (Original.) TJltan Sullivan. RETAIN THESE. Good conduct covers a very wide range of necessary distinctions. To my mind the ten most important are these: — Good Points. 1. Trustworthiness: The boy or girl who cannot be trusted is utterly worthless. A person capable of deceit, lying, or cheating is capable of any evil. 2. Obedience: In this world we must be willing to obey. If everyone did as he or she pleased the world would soon be in a state of topsy-turvydom. 3. But obedience is utterly without benefit to the character unless it is done in a cheerful and willing manner. 4. Kindness: Everyone should feel a softening, a feeling of pity and kindness, for those who are weaker or less fortunate than themselves. 5. Coui'age: This is necessary not only in a physical sense, but in that of the spirit. Courage to express one’s own ideas and thoughts and to stick to them—not to be swayed by what other people think or to follow the crowd. 6. Duty. For a person who can be trusted and relied upon a sense of duty is necessary. 7. Self-control: This is extremely necessary. If our feelings are always allowed to show, they may cause untold trouble. 8. Courtesy, especially to older people, is utterly essential. 9. Patience: We must curb our feelings of impatience and learn to wait and to hope. 10. Affection: Perhaps this is the most important, for really it is the foundation of all the other qualities. If we love anyone we endeavour to please them. DISCARD THESE. 1. Dishonour: It may start with little things. Perhaps it is a little “ w-hite lie ” or just on the border-line to cheating. If not checked it will develop into an unconquerable vice. 2. Fickleness: This, in my opinion, is an absolute sin. A person who will be all that is good and kind one day, only to be full of slander and spite the next, is unbearable. 3. Rudeness: This is another horrible habit. It causes untold pain to a sensitive person. 4. Thoughtlessness may cause much trouble. The person may be impulsive, meaning no harm, but often it leads to trouble. 5. Selfishness: A person who is selfish is liked by no one. He thinks only of himself, until too late he tries to mend his ways, to find that he is shunned by all. 6. Bad Temper: Bad-tempered people are always thoroughly disliked. The vice grows from petty offences, but it grows and increases. 7. Gossiping: An evil, prattling tongue may cause no end of trouble. We may think what we like, but it is always wisest to keep it to ourselves. 8. Laziness: Lazy people cannot be tolerated. 9. Lack of Will: The person who cannot keep to his own decisions—who can be swayed by the least thing—is to be pitied. 10. Boldness is unbearable. A person who is bold is usually shallow, empty and undesirable. (Original.) Gladys Lawson. PUZZLE SOLUTION. 1. Spigot S-pig-’ot. 2. Pump P-ump. 3. Pipe PiPe4. Trough Tr-off. 5. Fire-plug Fire-plug 6. Flood gate Flood-gate 7. Hose Hose. 8. Trap Trap. 9. Sluice S-loose. | 10. Well Well. The answer to Thursday’s puzzle.