I encountered this wonderfully
quaint volume at a local
thrift store. It had been tucked away by some thoughtful
bibliotaph in a cabinet containing among other things an old polaroid bellows camera that my
erstwhile sweetheart had been examining. It was published in 1918. Its black cover has the title embossed on it, in a visual style strikingly similar to that of
Pearl Jam's
Vitalogy album. The title page fairly accurately sums up the book's content, and I've recreated its layout below as accurately as possible without the
old school typeface and typesetting:
———————————————————————————————————————————
Personal Help for Boys
Vital Information for Boys at Ages of Greatest
Danger to Mental, Moral, and Physical Well-
being, with Advice, Counsel, and Help
Essential to Safety in their Relations
with Other Boys. Also Hints
on the Proper Relations with
Young Girls, Embracing
Just What Every
Boy Should Know
and no More
By
PROF. THOMAS W. SHANNON, A.M.
Author of "The Personal Help Sex
Series," five separate Volumes for Men,
Young Women, Parents, Boys and Girls
—————————
Supplementary Chapters on the Development of
Ideal Boyhood and Character Building
By
PROF. RICHARD W. LEWIS
Author, Editor, Lecturer, etc.
—————————
THE S.A. MULLIKIN COMPANY, Publishers
MARIETTA, OHIO
—:——————————————————————————————————————————
While a good portion of the book's advice is terribly outdated, a
decent portion of it has well stood
the test of time. As you may have guessed, the book basically advocates good old fashioned character
values, and warns against the dangers inherent in things like
tobacco,
alcohol, and
masturbation. The end product is hopefully a
chivalrous gentleman.