The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1861-02-08
Rearing Children PhysiOlogically.

We find TIE following sensible remarks
in the Sealpel:
All the absolute evils of this world may
be said to arise from ignorance and selfish
ness perhaps all might be included in the
word sel6shness if we give to that term
its full and broad Specification. Even our
purest affections in their manifestation seem
often only desire to please ourselves, without
reference to any result beyond the present.
There is throughout the world a lack of
perception of separate individuality, and of
the consequences to that other being, of any
course that we may pursue. Among men
the results of the acts of individuals toward
each other upon the community have given
rise to legislation and to laws.
In each separate family pater- -familias
sometimes indeed it is mater-fanilias)
constitutes himself and bis various moods
the law by which bis household is governed;
and in many cases his daily emotions of
anger or pleasure, disappointment or success,
render his rule benign and considerate, or
harsh and tyrannical. Many again there
are, who, by steady, moral, unwaveripg
mind, guide the household affairs, and the
development of those youthful minds which
God has intrusted to their care. To these,
and to all, we address ourselves. 1t is i'm
possible to instruct and develope correctly
any two children by the same course of
treatment; it is vain to make any system a
PrOcrustean bed; it is inconsistent with the
advance of humanity and with true individ
uality. While in morals there may be an
absolute right and wrong, an unwavering
adherence to the good and the true, the
peculiar method of attainment to this rule
is as varied as the minds upon the earth.
The natural faculties of each child are as
plain to careful observation as the sun at
noon day; and it is only necessary to know
the mental bias of child to enable US pro-
pery to determine the situation in life to
which !: is or her powers are best adapted.
Let every father, every mother and all
VINO hope to cali themselves parents, forever
bear this in mind. Watch the child at its
play. Suffer it to play as it will, and note
what sports attract it, wherein lies the chief
pleasure.
Away with those horrors, infant phenom-
ena. Let nature alone, and do you, igno-
rant man, keep your great, coarse finger out
OF the delicate machinery which, working
by and through nature, will, at the proper
moment, indicate the course to be pursued,
the development which is sought. Permit
childhood to guide you in the treatment
thereof. Nature is wise teacher.
At infancy, the healthy body, incapable
OF progressive motion, demands rest give
them perfect rest. Mans early life is
mere vegetable existence; the brain. gently
pulsating beneath the uniformed hone, is not
yet the seat of reason, but of instinct; while
nature then demands entire repose, or, at
the most, passive action, why should bar.
bar0us nurse or ignorant mother array the
little form in thick embroidery display it
to the admiring multitude; dandle it with
humping vibration, or spin it like boone.
rang in the air? Why seek the most noisy
promenade to confuse it with the uproar?
Why pound it up to be drawn over hum
dreds of miles, in the midst of smoke, efflu-
via, and all the rattle, noise and screams in.
cideEt to railroad travel? Avoid these
denominations called cradles; flee from the
rocking of the crib and all those swinging
motions which cannot fail to produce, in a
minor degree, those very agreeable sensa-
tions, that pleasing lethargy, which seizes
upon one when he is taking his first lesson
in drunkenness. What renown would
that agriculturist win for himself who should
first inventa patent, portable, double action,
self-rocking cradle for such calves-what an
advantage to the bovine race
When by pure air, and its natural nour-
ishment, 1.-THE pure milk Of COW, or goat,
is far better than that of feeble, passion
ate or drunken nurse, when the mother