Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1830-04-28
MISCEELANEES.

Infant Education. We find the follow
ing wholesome remarks in the "Protest-
ant Episcopalan" published at Philadcl-
phia:
In regard then to infant educ cation,
which comprehends the instruction COM
municated to the child, during the first
seven years of existence, we have some
what to say. 1t is the period during
which, by very many parents, and par
ticularly religious ones, most care is ta-
ken the mind and principles. lnjudic-
ious treatment, however, is often adopted
even here in two ways, first by too much
rigour and impatience in the manner of
conveying religious and other truth, and
secondly by contemning the counsels of
Solomon in reference to the application of
the rod On this latter point also we pro-
fess ourselves oldfashioncd, and as far as
our own experience and observation
have extended, we avow our entire con-
fdence in the system which the volume
Of inspiration so clearly sanctions. The
judicious use of such disci pine, during
the first ten years of child's life, would,
in great majority of cases, we think,
both preclude the necessity of after ap-
plcations, and afford the best grounded
security for decorous boyhood, and an
honorable maturity. Although we do
not yield to any one in attachment to re-
publican principles, yet are we most
strenuous supporters of the system which
enforce the doctrines of passion, Obedi-
ence and non-resistance upon children.
The very first lesson which they ought to
learn is to submit And they can acquire
it at a much earlier period than by most
parents it is taught. 1t is the height of
silly weakness to give even to the pulling
infant the toy it cries for because it cries.
Alas the poor little thing cannot under
stand the why's and wherefores of the
case, and hence it must be indulged.-
Now the very premise is one, from
which the opposite conclusion should be
dawn. He cannot understand why it
should not have the toy. What does
common sense, and manly reason hence
teach !? Presisely this-that now, while
the mind is in this very state, is the time
to break it to the bit, to accustom it to
have its wishes intercepted, and its will
resisted, to teach it practically that 9TH
ers are to rule, s. that its province is obe-
dicnce and submission.
There has sprang up, of late, one i'm
portant mode of aiding parents in this
branch of their weighty responsibility in
the Introduction and establishment of in
fant schools. In these institutions vast
amount of time is capable of being re-
deemed from utter loss. We say capable
of being redeemed, because we are far
from believing that any and ere'y infant
school must be beneficial. 1t is with
these little seminaries as with those
appropriated to higher branches of
of institution, and more advance period
of life. Their excellency consists in the
qualifications of the instructor, and the
nature of the system of tuition.
Here character, or that inscrutable
something, which distinguishes one indi-
vidual from another, and the germ of
which is implanted by the hand of God,
is displayed and here, therefore it is to
be modified and improved by a wise and
cautious teacher, or left by one of an OPP
posite description to strike its roots deep
into corrupt soil, and shoot up with the
rankness and rapidity of a noxious weed.
CHANCES OF MARRIAGE.-A curious
calculation has been entered into by
writer in recent Edinburg paper, the
object of which is to show the relative
number of marriages that take place
among the females of Scotland between
the ages of fourteen and forty. Of a
thousand married women under forty, ,''ta-
ken without selection" it seems that 80
were married during their fourteenth or
fifteenth year, l04 during their sixteenth or
seventeenth, 2l9 during their eighteenth
or nineteeeth, & 233 (thc greatest num-
ber) during the twentieth x twenty-frst.
From that age forward the number OF
marriages in each year rapidly declines
twenty-five and twenty-thrce giving only
165, the next two year lO2, the neS 45