Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-08-08
Philosophy and Children's Dresses.

In The different SOU Tres of our city, it is
really distressing sometimes Of an afternoon to
witness the effect produced by nurses vieing
with each other N decorating their poor little
infant charges so rs to make them look genteel
TO TO fashionable watering place. and the
case is worse; parents and g: crs also feel their
credit at stake. in producing the best-dressed
little responsibilities. In the country, proper
ly SO called, how different Thers children
are allowed to kick off shoes and stockings if
they please in bot weather, and TO run about
as and where they choose. The effect is that
they grow up robust and strong, with healthy
minds in healthy bodies
The effect OF these city fashions, pushed to
the extremes they are, upon health, is not
easily to be estimated. A child, dressed up in
fine clothes, eanDo. take proper hearty exer-
clse Its movements are all watched and con-
strained by the nurses. 1t never stirs without
the fear of being scoldei by some one for dis
arranging its eurls or soiiing its clean dress
How miserable ali this cOnstrSint upon its free
dom IhoSe rlDSiets carefully arranged
what source OF misery and often sickness
Long hair will absorb "a much of a child's
strength IN =. season as would give il an inch
Of growth Now il tickies the neck now it
increases the warmth. and row it is we. and
gives the child perpetual cold and sore throat
This fine dressing must be a source of count
less irritations. The nurse acquires the habit
Of perpetusny swapping, interfering, watch
ing and checking all the free notions OF child
hood. and tho little one learns 20 believe that
10 sit s;ill, and take these lectures meckly is
the very essence Of being u good child lis
spirits broken in, and il becomes a docile sun
plant, instead of free, bold, and inyigorOus
child November Its check is pale, and tie
doctor IL constantly needed, or that it grows up
nervous, irritable and paeviSh.
The direct cost OF ell this is no trife it
may crafty parents taste for the moment
crafty that kind Of affection which loves to
Des:ow costly tokens of regard. however use
less or injurious, but where Is the prudent mo-
Their that would not better show her kindness
by creating a little fund, and saving all these
superb expenses FOR its use a. n future
day? The extra cost of this curling. making
and washing fine dresses for two such little
ones. is not Tess than equal TO the time Of 4
maid servant, or $3.50 beyond what is requi-
site IN attention for their best health and great
est comfort. There are telegraph stocks in the
city where every $3.50 thus saved would in
creasefn eight years to S625. The habits Of
infancy form the tastes of youth, and the pas
sion for hnery is easily cherished. But what
man of moderate means can afford IT, marry
one Of these young lilies Of the valy. who toll
not, neither do they spin. while errayed more
gOrseously than Solomon in all bis glory!
Life i'selfis often put in jeop lrdy by all this.
A thin, ine dress has given many q child the
Group; low bare neck has enlar ged the ton
sils. and contracted the chest Of many pretty
little OnS- We ourselves have very lively re-
collections of chilled and aching feet, chill
brains and il Vulnerable her evils, through the
thin, pretty, but tight shoes into which the
feet of our childhood were erammei even in
winter on n Sunday, that we might appear re-
spectacle at Church.
4 little child just beginning to walk climbs
up 10 the top OF pair Of stairs, step by sep
alone Its feet get entang!ed iii its dress, il
pitches heAdlong down to the bottom, and its
brain is injured for life it dies, and the IA
Their fluids the hopes and tolls Of life fru,sra-
ted What has caused it! Some feeble lace
inserting at the bottom of its dress. through
which its little foot has naturally caught, t0rn
the lsce and tripped tup. Would that father
but take pen knife and cut away the whole
Of such dangerous ineTy, it would De no small
kindness 20 the child. nurses to the contrary
Notwithstanding .-PAiksaeipkia ledger.