Ideas For Boys | Page 2

the life of every young man, especially between the ages of twenty and forty, and he must solve these problems for himself, no one else can do it for him. It was my experience as a young man that every time I met such a situation, there came to my mind some advice my grandfather had given me, perhaps years before, which materially aided me in solving the new problems of life. Men change and conditions change, but principles remain, and however intricate and difficult a situation may seem, it will be solved with the aid of some well founded principle of justice.
It is only by careful and thoughtful study of the principles of right living, gained from the experience of others as well as from one's own experience, that the youth can obtain a knowledge of the principles necessary to guide him in his life's work. The best way to do anything is to do it right, but of course it requires intelligence, experience and knowledge to know how to do right. Wrongs are generally committed through ignorance, and this is one reason why knowledge has such a great advantage over ignorance.
Tried and recognized principles are the sign posts which guide the youth on his way. Every person ultimately selects and adopts his own principles of living, but if he makes mistakes in his selection and action he must pay the penalty for every wrong he commits.
At birth Life endows a normal infant with power to see, hear, feel, taste, smell, remember, and ultimately to reason and talk. Life also brings to the infant many instincts which are developed later, such as that of self preservation, love and the conception of a Creator. But at the start of its career the infant does not possess knowledge, its brain must be developed, and as Life proceeds, physicians tell us, there are developed in the brain additional cells through the exercise of the brain by thought and instruction, just as the muscles of the arm or other parts of the body are developed and strengthened by exercise and use. Life, however, seems to be stronger and more energetic in some individuals than in others, but the extent of your strength and energy can only be determined by a test of many years' duration.
There is developed in every normal human life a Character, or Personality, or Will, or Mind, or Soul I care not what name is given to this individual power which governs and directs the development of his brain cells. This power is frequently called Will power and is capable of development, it is spurred on by necessity, by interest in things and the desire to be able to do and possess things.
It is the duty of intelligent parents or guardians or instructors of youth to see that proper instruction is given to the young in their charge in order that their brain cells shall be properly developed as well as their physical and muscular strength.
Let us take a boy ten or twelve years old who having heard persons play the piano decides he would like to do the same thing. When he first sits at the piano he has no knowledge of music, he is able to strike the keys and make a noise, but not harmonious music. Someone having a knowledge of music gives him instruction and he practices day after day on the piano, and in the course of time develops certain cells in his brain which enable him to read music and perform upon the instrument. He has acquired a knowledge of music which he did not possess before he began to practice and study the art of music.
Again, this boy decides he would like to know how to operate a complicated engine or machine, some one who has knowledge of engines instructs him in the use of the different parts of the engine, the boy practices and studies and soon develops sufficient brain cells to intelligently operate the machine, and with continued study he may be able to build a better machine.
To illustrate again, a boy decides he wants to acquire the ability to deliver an oration, he must first study language and develop brain cells so that he may use language fluently, and then he must study the subject on which he is to speak and develop further brain cells.
It is by work and practice and effort on the part of a growing boy that his brain cells are increased and developed from time to time and his knowledge of various subjects is built up. If he will not work his knowledge will not properly increase.
The brain in a boy fifteen years of age does not contain the knowledge and intelligence by far that it will contain, if properly directed, when he has attained