The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1835-07-01
TERRIFYING CHILDREN.


On this subject, Mr.. Theodore Dwight, Jr. in
his work entitled " The FATHER's BooK,," has the
following judcious observations.
This is sometimes praticsed by domestcs and
others, either to obedience, as a punish
ment, or perhaps from a mere love of sport. Pa
rents should be warned against permitting their chill
dren's fear be excited by an influence of the ina
sinaton. have taken the pains to get the follow
ING statement from person who may be depended
on for accuracy.
| was fond of reading at the age of five, and
many years after; but | have often thought that
should have been much useful and happy
through the early part of my lfe if the opposite had
been the fact One of my first books was :" Blue
Beard ) and the very name brings back the lead
ing of that fightful story with the sufferings
they caused by long acting upon my fears,
though have not read it, believe, in thirty years
My parents thought my unwlllingness to go to bed
alone was owing to some whlm, or proceeded mere
ly from childish desire to stay up longer but by
compelling me to it they made me undergo indes-
cribabed distress. | do not believe that man
would undergo greater terror if imprisoned an equal
time in the Inquiston, with the expectation OF beng
every moment put to death, by torture, than often
endured at that time. | remember the place where
| lay, the horror with which | looked at II closet
near me, and tanced 1t the . blue chamber, the
agitation caused by every sound, and the total eXtIn-
gufshment of every joy and every hope as lay m
my night tremor, enduring sufterlngs which could
not describe for want of language As this trial
REQUIRED every evening and my daily thoughts often
anticipated its return with shudder, doubt hot
that my nerves were greatly shocked.
The reading of highly wrought fctions in sub
sequcnt years was also iniuriousto me, by exciting
terror well as other feelings little, if at all less
improper Frightful scenes in Fairy Tales, the
Arabian Nights, some of the old novels, and other
books, often agitated my feelings for long time;
and have still reason TO regret the associations
which frequently bring them to my memory
No doubt many other persons nigh confirm these
opinions, as well testify to the danger of permit
ting the fears of children to be excited by others
The evil which we apprehend from the intercourse
between our children aud domescs, after bad prln-
clples and immoral PRACTICES perhaps, is that they
will be frightened about imaginary beings. Many
of the ignorant those who are yirtuous have
some superstitious concerning spirits and many
find it easy to make children do as they please 10y
exciting their fears. an ignorant or ndolent school
master resorts to emulation or blows, because they
cost him less than systematic management and wise
instructions. An excellent mother once told her
little son that man-servant of whom he seemed
extravugantlv fond had been dismissed This he at
first heard without emotion, and appeared scarcely
believe it but when he had satisfied himself that
he never to return, he expressed the utmost
pleasure. He then informed his mother that he had
I
for the servant had terrified him with stories of
spirit, which he said would kill him if he did not
obey his commands, and thus compelled him 10 do
whatever he wished. II was long before the chiid's
mind recovered from the influence of this state OF
terror.
During the absence of the heads of a family from
home several years since, servant undertook to
lrighten a younger domestic, who was addicted to
fasehood, thinking it would correct her bad pro-
pensty. She therefore appeared in terrified dis-
guse in the midst of the children, while at their
sports; but instead of efecting any good she wen
nigh destroyed the reason of one of the children,
who was unable. for some time afterwards. ever to
60 into a dark room alone, strongly was the scene
impressed upon his mind, and so much had terror
affected his nerves. lie was before as bold as boys
commonly are but this fright for time entirely
changed his character. The horror he sometimes
exhibited made him an object of compassion TO his
friends who felt, what probably true. that little
more would have been necessary to unsettled his
mind for life.