--- title: Improvement Era description: Monthly periodical of the Mormon church, 1897 onward. This library holds the issues of November 1897 to December 1930. authors: - Hawkley, Joseph B. collections: - periodicals tags: - magazine - improvement-era periodical: Improvement Era volume: 19 number: 2 published: 1915-12 publisher: Young Men’s Mutual Improvement Associations publisher_place: Salt Lake City language: en type: magazine reference: 'Hawkley, Joseph B., "Our Children’s Best Inheritance," *Improvement Era* 19, no. 2 (December 1915): 170–171.' source: url: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1902unse transcription: Transcribed from the Internet Archive scan of each issue (the item for each issue is named in the issue's own source); unnumbered advertising leaves are omitted, printed page numbers are kept as page markers. identifier: improvementera1902unse start_page: 170 end_page: 171 rights: status: public-domain basis: US publication 1930 or earlier (published 1915-12) source: https://archive.org/details/improvementera1902unse publication_year: 1915 note: The Internet Archive item metadata carries a blanket "© Copyright by Intellectual Reserve, Inc." notice. The library owner judged it inapplicable because this issue was published in 1915, before 1931; a scan-level notice does not restore copyright. --- # Our Children’s Best Inheritance Our Children's Best ^Inheritance. BY JOSEPH B. HAWKLEY At an old folks' party, many elderly men and women enjoyed a day on the old grounds, talking over the joys and difficulties of school, as it was in their days. Promptly the talk drifted to the dead and gone parents, and what they had saved for their children. There were many pros- perous farmers and business men in the group, as well as suc- cessful women, so the young people wanted to know what had made them successful. One man spoke at once of the sound physical health his mother had laid up for her boys and girls, and he declared that this had been his best asset all his life. His mother had been delicate herself, having been brought up by an aunt who had time for all household duties and economies, but little time to look after her own children, or her orphan niece. So the brave mother resolved that her children should not be handicapped as she had been. They were taught to breathe the free open air, to ride, to work, to swim, to observe diligently the laws of health, and to keep their bodies sound and healthy. Where other men went down on account of ill-health and where other women faded into early graves, he and his brothers and sisters stood firm, and suc- ceeded. Then a woman said that, in addition to sound health, her mother had always insisted upon good table manners. They were poor, but the wise mother always said that nobody knew what position her boys and girls might be called upon to fill later in life. So they were required to take a rigid training in politeness, particularly at the table. The mother wisely said that the table was the test, and anyone who could pass an examination there could succeed in other branches. Of course, religion, sound morals, and honesty, were all taken for granted, and it was of the other or lesser things of life that they spoke. No one could truly succeed without high ideals, but there are many other factors in success. Good manners, good health, good temper, and ability to make the best of a bad happen- ing are powerful factors in success. Cheerfulness, a hopeful out- look on life, and a real desire to please, were all mentioned as de- sirable heritages to leave their children ; and the successful man OUR CHILDREN'S BEST INHERITANCE 171 and women united in saying that their parents had saved up such things for them. To the young people, the odd part about the conversation was that money was never once mentioned as a stepping stone to suc- cess. Education, good morals, religion, honesty, and many other virtues and possessions, were lauded to the skies, but never once did any man or woman say anything about money. This seemed very strange to the young people, about ready to go out into life, and they could not keep the wonder out of their eyes and voices. Thenthe most successful man of all said that the best and finest inheritances young people could carry from the old homestead were never bought with money, though money, of course, is a great aid in getting an education, and in providing good food and clothing for the body. The conclusion of the whole matter was that any one could earn money, after attaining the years of maturity, but the other things were the result of home training. So, if successful men and women are right, it is within the power of the humblest parents to send their sons and daughters out into the world, rich in the real values of life. Why, then, fret and worry and give up many joys to gather money for them ? Money is all right, if they are trained to use it wisely ; but if not, it is a curse, as many people can testify. If any parents are dis- couraged about financial matters, let them remember that, without money and without price, they can store up an inheritance for their girls and boys that kings might envy. POCATELLO, IDAHO Objection has often been made against residents of the United States calling themselves Americans. It is not egotism so much as it is the lack of a proper word by which to designate ourselves that has led citizens of this country to usurp the term "American" which has aroused the resentment of other nationalities on this hemisphere. The New York Independent points out that, "Es- peranto provides us the needed word, 'Usona,' formed from the initials of United States of North America. As a derivitive 'Uso- nian' does not sound badly, and might be justified by the analogy 'Canadian' and 'Panamanian.' The Independent then suggests that if our professors of English would undertake such construc- tive work as the formation and introduction of these needed words, instead of devoting themselves to the detection of the typograph- ical errors of the 'First Folio,' and the influence of opium on Coleridge, the language would cease to be an impediment to progress." The British nation, it is pointed out, needs new words also to apply to the inhabitants of the British Isles, the United Kingdom, and its dominions beyond the seas.