The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-03-11
PARENTS AND CHILDREN.

! We annex some sound remarks from New
York journal on Temper. The editorial department
of a newspaper is of too limited a character for a
detailed statement of the errors of love- and the
mistakes of Judgment, frequently if not so gcncr-
ally ndulgcd by parents in bringing up their off
spring, even if we deemed ourselves qualified to
discuss topic of such importance but we know OF
no subject better calculated to arrest the attention
plIlanthropsts or IN the discussion of which more
valuable work might be produced by one well quail
hed for the task. 1t is impossible to conceive the
amount of misery and crime which parents entail
upon their children by false mode of education
by raising expectations that never be realized
and bringing them up in a manner delicate, or to
profession unsued their abilities, as to rem
der 1t impossible for them to obtain livelihood af-
ter they arrive at years of maturity Look at the
history of parents and children in the United States
and how many melancholy instances of the results
of this false system might be pointed out The
moment an honest and Woodworking mechanic,
storc-kceper artisan, accumulacs little property
the interest of which, together with the fruits of his
daily toll Is found adequate to maintain one family
with some degree of comfort and respectabty it is
too often the that most detestabIe description
of pride takes possession of the parents BOSOM and
1t Is determined that this son Is peculiarly suited
doctor, the other for a lawyer and so on to
end of the chapter; while the daughters are bedeck-
ed in all the colors of the rainbow and sneer at the
idea OF becoming the wives of honest and upright
mechanics. The consequence too frequently is that
the sons become disgrace to their profession, and
their fathers industry, while the daughters either die
old maids compelled in the end to accept of
offers that in their moments of beauty and pride
they would have refused with scorn. And vet all
this is the result of edueation-o the false pride and
misguided affection of parents, who may be said to
train up their offspring to adversely and beggarv
instead of fitting them for the cares and tolls of this
working-day world, instead of teaching them the
necessity of dependng'on themseves-their own re-
sources and powers, and qualifying them hv habits
of industry and an economical mode of life for con-
tlicts with the world and with adversitv IL is true
that 1t is natural for all parents to have desire to
see their offspring attain elevation and rank among
mankind, and It'll weakness too general for them
to suppose their children especially qualified to shine
IN some one of the professions, or in some walk of
life beyond and above the ordinary paths of industry
but no who really loves his child, and who
cannot, when that child arrives at the age of matu-
rIty, give him an important start in life-place him
beyond the reach of want for at least five years,
should venture upon the rash experiment of appren-
ticing him to profession by which he cannot earn
his daily bread, The adoption of any other
by the parent is cruel towards the child and calcu-
lated to plunge him into idleness, despair poverty,
and crime. The subject is fertile one, and one
IN which, as it appears to the people OF this
try, and especially of our large cities particular
" interested. Ii cannot he too frequently adverted
to- and we NAV take occasion, if opportunity per-
mts, to note instances that have passed under
our own observation, in which consequences of the
most melancholy character have resulted from the
system alluded to.-Pd. Enquirer.