Page images
PDF
EPUB

duty he owes to himself, his parents and the college; he realizes that the true basis of a college education is the establishment of character, making it more efficient through knowledge, in order better to serve his country and his kind.

Then he resolves to take full advantage of his wonderful opportu nity. It is at this point that he becomes a man.

In the case of the less fortunate boy, who is compelled to go to work immediately after leaving high school, the change is more abrupt. He is obliged to face the issues of life as it is. If the boy has any sentiment at all, he experiences a thrill when he realizes for the first time that he is independent in life. Perhaps a few thoughtless years are wasted in frivolities, but sooner or later his common-sense conquers, he becomes a man, and continues his life work with a deeper appreciation of its possibilities.

When once this change has taken place, the man, if he is really worthy of the name, will devote most of his time to the things of life which are worth while. He will put the best he has into the interests of his business. His home will serve as an encouragement to him in his business, rejoicing with him in his successes and comforting him in defeat. He will have a large body of friends, every one a true friend. He will cultivate the religious side of his nature, both for the good it does him and the good it may do to others. The greatest need of the world to-day is for men of this type.

The period of transformation from boy to man is the most momentous in life, for it is then that the question of success or failure in life is settled.

Make the school, the church, and the home each do its part to prepare the boy for passing through this period victoriously. [Applause.]

MR. SMITH. Good! The next boy is Standish MacIntosh, of the English High School, and his topic is "Educating our Parents." [Applause and laughter.]

STANDISH MACINTOSH

Mr. Chairman and Gentlemen, - Preparing for college nowadays, gentlemen, is not a bed of roses. What was in your day considered highly important is now a thing hardly worthy of notice, and I have found it necessary sometimes to instruct my parents on the turn that education has taken.

The limits are no longer defined by the three R's. For instance, this reminds me of a story which you have perhaps heard. Two men were discussing their boyhood days, and one said to the other, “Jack, do you remember the days when we went to the little old schoolhouse and recited the three R's?" " Three?" replied his companion "In my case it was four, reading, 'riting, 'rithmetic, and rattan." [Laughter.] But to resume. Not only has the scope of these three time-honored R's been considerably broadened, but also new courses of study are offered which cannot properly be classed under these three heads. The

high schools of to-day are turning out young men who are past masters in the principles of rhetoric, civil government, economics, merchandising, mathematics, languages, sciences, and so on. Ask any one of them, they will tell the world they are; and ask their instructors.

66

Seriously, though, there are exceptional opportunities for the young man of to-day. Not only can he take up courses in the ordinary classes, but there are a number of clubs in school that he can attend and which will help him to perfect himself in his different studies. If he is a student of English, there is a debating club; if he is interested in the sciences, there is a science club, where some chemist sharp," to use the vernacular of the "frats," pours out of a single flask-not the pocket kind, either not only milk and water, but also wine. Even if your thirst has been very much augmented by the recent Volstead Act, though, I wouldn't advise you to partake of any of his forbidden beverages, for about all of the lively part of it is wood alcohol.

As I stated before, there are exceptional opportunities for students now. The courses themselves have been augmented, have been increased in importance, and the boy who really wants to can get an education that will do him a great deal of good.

The boy of to-day realizes that his opportunities are great, that he has a chance to make a man of himself; and so he takes every opportunity of showing his parents how much of these opportunities they missed. He comes home and explains the advantages of approximate computation, takes frequent opportunity to correct their pronunciation, and even airs his views on the procedure of study.

The men, on the other hand, seem to think he knows a little bit too much for his years, that he is a little over-proud of his knowledge, and so they make light of his views; but this is not a good idea, for really he is at a critical period of his life, he is just changing from the child into the man, and he is trying very hard to make people think that he is Don't be too severe on him, when he comes home and starts to tell you the different things he has done, and tries to tell you what you ought to do. Please believe he is doing his level best. [Applause.]

a man.

MR. SMITH. The next boy is Paul G. Kanold, of the High School of Commerce.

PAUL G. KANOLD

Mr. Chairman and Members, and Sons of Members of the Boston City Club,- About two years ago I experienced a thrill which large numbers of you present here this evening have enjoyed, that of wearing my first long trousers. [Laughter.] At that time I was convinced that I had crossed the line of manhood, and was entitled to put Mr." before my name.

46

But a few months later an event occurred which dispelled my previous convictions. That event consisted in escorting a young lady friend to the theater. The sensation which I enjoyed that evening is indescribable. [Laughter and applause.] As a matter of fact, I don't

think it would be necessary, even if possible, to describe it to you [laughter], for you can remember the night that you called at her house and took her to the theater or a dance, and how afterwards you stood in front of her house, trying to say good-bye the way a man was supposed to say it. So, later that night, while I was meditating on my recent happiness, I was persuaded that this event was the final initiation into the brotherhood of man, that I had finished my days as a boy, because only a man could perform the act which I had performed.

Eventually I commenced work, in my spare time. A few months later my employer called me into his office and said, "Paul, you are doing your work well. You are doing it better than it has ever been done before, and I appreciate it; therefore to show my appreciation, I am going to increase your pay seven dollars." If thrills were pennies, I took a million at that moment. All previous happenings were nothing, beside this event. I certainly was nothing but a boy until this last event, which without any question of doubt transformed me into a man.

Then, last Monday I was asked to speak before this assembly. A little, inexperienced fellow like myself being asked to speak before a great array of keen business men! At first thought it seemed to me I had at last struck a man's job [laughter], or, if I was still a boy, why was I asked to speak before such an audience? I certainly must be a man. But after giving the matter closer attention I finally came to the conclusion that this was not the transforming point in my life, that this was not the event which suddenly transformed me into a man, but that I was still a boy, that I would remain a boy and I shall leave this for the ratification of all you fathers - until I came to the point where I would be willing to ask my Dad for advice, then and only then would I become a man. [Prolonged applause.]

MR. SMITH. Paul didn't tell us, after getting his seven dollars, when he is going to marry the girl.

The next and last speaker is Mr. Harry Frank, also of the High School of Commerce.

HARRY FRANK

Mr. Chairman and Members, and Sons of Members of the Boston City Club, When does a boy become a man? That is the question. Does he become a man when he finishes his formal education? Some Does he become a man when he reaches his twenty-first year, say yes. and is a man in the eyes of the law? If that is the case then there must be some radical change which comes over a person when he reaches his twenty-first birthday. No boy can become a man in one day. Does he become a man when he reaches the age of discretion? Some say no. I also say no. Age is no barometer of manhood.

I believe that a boy becomes a man when he tackles a man's job and makes a success of it. That is my theory, in view of all that is revealed to us, that a boy must do and act that which ordinarily it takes a man to execute efficiently, before he can be admitted to manhood.

It is true that there are many other things that are signs of manhood, but a real test is necessary before the final decision may be made. The test comes when he has a chance to perform a man's duty, to fulfill a man's place.

It is said that youth is a blunder, manhood a struggle, and old age regret. But the mistakes of youth are overlooked. When, however, a boy reaches manhood he can no longer blunder, he must successfully keep up with the traditions of men, and avoidable mistakes are pardonable.

un

I shall never forget an experience of my employment by a business concern, a reputable candy house, operating on a large scale. One Monday afternoon I walked into the office of the treasurer of this company to submit an application for a position. Presently the gentleman came in from the next office, where he had been speaking with another executive; a few minor words passed between us, and soon we were talking of the main issue. He told me that the man formerly occupying the position I was about to fill, in the event of my being engaged, had been sent to Europe to take charge of the finances of the branches in Paris and London. When he said that a peculiar feeling came over me, that I was about to fill the place of a real man, and a man who had already demonstrated his ability. The next thing that came to my mind was that I should be required to do fully as well as my predecessor had done, for there are certainly precedents that must be carried out, regardless of whether you are a regular or a mere recruit.

[ocr errors]

On Wednesday of the same week I entered upon my career as assistant treasurer if you want to call it that. It is all right to say assistant treasurer," but the responsibilities that must be assumed, in performing all the duties required, far overbalance any title or any compensation going with the proposition.

I learned a great deal about corporation finances and corporation accounting while with this concern. It is true that I received a small compensation, but I learned something; and the greatest reward of all came in the feeling that I had acquired that knowledge and that I had tackled a man's job, and, in my estimation, I fulfilled it efficiently.

Before manhood opens its gates to a youth, he must prove that he can do a man's deed, and do it well. That is the test of manhood; and until we young fellows here can execute a man's work efficiently we are not men but still mere boys. As soon as we can carry a man's responsibilities, we are admitted into the society of men on equal terms with them, and not one moment before. [Applause.]

Following these addresses, Mr. A. C. M. Azoy, Jr., of New York, who came to Boston for the express purpose of contributing to the program, recited several humorous sketches, much to the amusement of the boys. The program was concluded by an illustrated lecture by a fellow-member of the Club, Mr. William Lyman Underwood, who told the remarkable story of a cub bear.

[blocks in formation]
« PreviousContinue »