Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-07-12

everything about the house. The father
finding, however, that his love of drawing
and sketching was incurable, at length
wisely ceased to counteract his artistic ten
dency, and beginning to grow anxious to
turn it to some account, finally apprenticed
him to maker of tea-trays, from whose
employ as everybody knows, he advanced
into the ranks of acknowledged genius.
When young West first began to display
skill in drawing, ndlearned from the roam
ing Indians the method OF preparing col
ors, he was at loss to conceive how to lay
these colors skilfully on. A neighbor in.
formed him that this was done with brush
es formed of camels hair there were no
camels in America, and he had recourse to
the cat, from whose back and tail he sup
piled his wants. The cat was favorite,
and the altered condition of her fur was
imputed to disease, till the boys confession
explained the cause, much TO the amuse-
ment OF his father, who rebuked, him not
rashly, bat as becometh wise parent, more
in affection than in anger. Torebuke such
an act wisely, required on the part of the
parent discrimination sufficiently clear to
discern that mischief doing had nothing to
do in the affair 1t was of no small impor-
tance that the correction employed should
| be adapted to the circumstances ofthe case.
So, also, the mother of West, when she was
sent to seek for her son by the anxious in
quiries of the school master in regard to his
absence for several days from school, did
not on finding HIM with his box and paints,
laboring secretly in the garret. vent forth
her anger in a passionate way, as though
the child were engaged IN "a mere foolish
piece of business"
Thus we see the necessity of great dis
elimination on the part of the parent in the
correction of child. Children do not al
ways necessarily engage in doing things,
in sort of perfunctory manner, merely
performing them for the sole purpose Of get
ting through, careless whether they are
done well or not. Children need not al
ways necessarily act maneuvres in ro-
guish manner, merely busying their brain
for the purpose of working out some means
to practice trick. Chalk does not appear
to be used invariably for such purposes as
raising laughter, and performing mischief
Gus acts. Even at the sight of charcoal,
Fso difficult to tolerate, it is not allowed for
the parent 10 use discretion, though mis-
chievousness may seem to make use of this
exceedingly srutty substance as one pecu-
iary suited to answer its purposes.
1t is said that Copiey, at some seven or
eight years old, on being observed to abb
sent himself from the family for several
hours at time, was at length traced to a
lonely room, on whose bare walls he had
drawn, in charcoal, group of martial fig
ures engaged in some nameless adventure.
The artistic tendency in such a case
needs treatment far different from that
which would attribute it to the love of
mere 5portive trick practicing. The man
euvres of boy should be thoroughly stud
led to their real nature before recourse is
! had to rod correction. RaShness on the
part of parent or teacher Is never ex-
cusable. 1t should be rene mbered that in
the plays and pursuits of the boy. the fu-
ture man is sometimes seen, and therefore
it becomes Of Importance TO know how the
amusements and games of the children
may be improved for directing their incli-
nation TO employments in which they may
hereafter excel.-BoStOn Transcript.