Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 4.djvu/464

 444 THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SOCIOLOGY

THE FIGHT BETWEEN JOHN AND JACK.

Once upon a time two boys had a fight. The fight began in this way : One day a group of boys was playing pitch. They were using celluloid but- tons, and the game was exciting. Jack was not playing, but John was. Now Jack, to be funny, picked up John's button, which was close to the goal, and started on a run. Now this made John angry, and he started after the joker on the run. He took the button away from him and returned to the game. Jack again picked up the button and ran away with it. This time John caught Jack and punched him in the back, whereupon Jack turned around and punched John in the face. Now I think a better way to settle the affair would be to tell Jack to keep away and leave the buttons alone ; and if he did not, the best thing to do would be to catch Jack and all the boys hold him, while one could give him a good spanking. But suppose the other boys would not spank the joker Jack ? Why, if I were John, I would pick up my button and walk away. Boys over ten years old are too old to fight. Some boys love to fight simply because they do not know any better. Those kind of fellows are to be pitied. Mr. Fairchild made other very interesting remarks, of which I have not time to write. He was well applauded when the lecture closed.

William McCormick.

The applause indicated that the interest of the children was reached, and that they did not feel as if I had been scolding them. I condemned Jack, and I proved to them that he deserved it, and that the fine fellows have good times and no fuss. Their hands said : "That's so; you're right."

A tabulation of these returns from twenty-four children of the seventh grade — eight boys and sixteen girls — gives the follow- ing results :

Idea expressed

Disapproval of the fight and of Jack.

Boys over ten are too old to fight.

Toughs fight ; gentlemen do not.

Do as the gentlemen do — walk off.

Boys have the most fun when there is no fuss.

Right to fight for a good cause, but not for a trifle.

Do your best to give the rest a jolly good .time.

This table of ideas is quite complete, and makes one point clear. The children grasp the concrete disapproval of this fight, but are slow to fix in memory the generalizations of the lecture ; " Do your best to give the rest a jolly good time,"

oys

Girls

Total

8

I6

24

4

4

8

4

4

8

2

3

5

3

I

4

I

3

4

2

I

3