Sometimes sound advice is timeless advice. In otherwords, good advice. I recently found (actually refound) an old, yellowed piece of paper. On the paper was hand-typed a reprint of an opinion piece from long ago. I want to say it was hand-typed in the 1960s, but I ain’t sure.
The typist dated the editorial as Dec. ?16 . . . that’s it. That’s all I got! It was headlined, GO HOME! and I think was in Minutes Magazine put out by the Quincy (Illinois) Herald Whig newspaper. I had 30-plus year Sherman Publications veteran Don Rush check into the Herald Whig.
He informed me the daily paper is still alive and thriving and they gave me the thumbs up on reprinting their piece. Here it is.
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GO HOME
This advice to teenagers appeared in the Employment Counselor publication of the National Association of Personnel Consultants.
Always we hear the plaintive cry of the teenager: What can we do? Where can we go? The answer is: GO HOME!
Wash the storm windows, paint the woodwork, rake the leaves, mow the lawn, shovel the walk, wash the car, learn to cook, scrub some floors, repaint the sink, build a boat, get a job, sell papers, carry papers. Help the minister or priest or rabbi, the Red Cross, the Salvation Army; visit the sick; assist the poor, study your lessons. And when you are through — and not too tired — read a book.
Your parents do not owe you entertainment. Your city or village does not owe you recreation facilities. The work does not owe you a living. You owe the world something. You owe it your time and energy and your talents so that no one will be at war, in poverty, or sick, or lonely again.
This you owe to your parents, teachers, pastors, elders, and your country.
In plain, simple words: GROW UP! Quit being a cry-baby. Get out or your dream world and develop a backbone, not a wish bone, and start acting like a man or a lady.
You’re supposed to be mature enough to accept some of the responsibilities your parents have carried for years. They have nursed, protected, helped, appealed, begged, excused, tolerated and denied themselves needed comforts so that you could have every benefit. You have no right to expect them to bow to every whim and fancy?
In Heaven’s name, GROW UP AND GO HOME!
(This From Other Editors: Phillip B Gilliam, Juvenile Court judge, Denver, Colorado.)
The above is not only good advice for H.S. Youngsters, but for college groups, and also young married couples, until they become independent – – depended upon themselves for their own support going. Good advice for all? concerned? Do something… keep active? keep interested? to keep going, alive, happy!