190 Missouri Agncultural Report. 



fail in our duty. "All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy," 

 and recreation is needed on the farm as well as elsewhere. We 

 also have room for pets, cats, dogs, lambs, pigs, ponies, etc., and 

 the children will keep busy looking after these, and not debase 

 their minds and hearts with those things which lead downward. 



We cannot be too careful in placing the right kind of literature 

 before our sons. We should read carefully and give them that 

 which will create an, ambitious, uplifting tendency. They should 

 have interesting, manly stories, with good language and good 

 morals. Boys will, by the time they are able to select their own 

 books, have acquired a taste for good literature and will not enjoy 

 the "Nick Carter" brand. The country boy needs this safeguard 

 thrown around him for the improvement of his leisure moments. 

 For good books are good companions. 



A boy's room should be attractive. As a rule, the daughter's 

 room is made a very attractive, restful place. Some think sons 

 would not appreciate an attractive room and do not make it so. 

 As a rule, you will find the sons just as eager to make their rooms 

 attractive, from their point of view, as you would make the 

 daughter's room, and they will enjoy showing it to their friends 

 and enjoy the time spent in it. To enjoy, care for and appreciate 

 these possessions a son must have them. He should be allowed 

 and encouraged to decorate his own room. Gradually his taste for 

 the beautiful will develop, and he will be making plans and work- 

 ing to make home more attractive in all its appointments. I have 

 seen sons come home from a trip tired, but not content to rest 

 until they had placed a new picture or pennant in the most effective 

 place on the wall of their room. 



The boy with musical talent is doubly blessed. It is not only 

 a source of great pleasure to himself, his family and his friends, 

 but it gives him a place in society, lifts him up and sets him apart. 

 With beautiful thoughts and beautiful melodies for companions, he 

 whiles away many evenings which would otherwise be dull and 

 weary. These accomplishments have their uplifting, refining in- 

 fluence, which develop a taste for the higher things in life. I beg 

 you to develop a boy's talent for the beautiful, in whatever line 

 it is, for it means much toward a happy, contented future for him. 

 This part of the country boy's life is sadly neglected. 



To acquire thrift and alertness pertaining to the financial side 

 of life, they must have something of their own to sell or keep. 

 This should be theirs to use as they choose, so long as they do not 

 injure themselves or friends by so doing. The feeling of inde- 



