The Evansville journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 1866-1870, 1868-06-02
Philosophy OF Punishment.
BY henry WARD BEEcHER.


Among the tender recollections of
childhood, none have more perma-
nently established themselves than
the memory ofwhippings. [ do not like
to allude to such drubbings as one
boy gives to another; nor to the flag
citations of the school master; nor to
the rough-and- tumble chastisement
occasionally administered by the
hired men-but TO the household dis
cipline, and wholesome manifesto
tons of parental moral government
There were punishments masculine
and feminine, acute and chronic, In
series and in sum totals. Very sell
dom did woman's hand WELD gen.
uine switch. Ther3 was a generous
tltIlatIon IN a fresh cut branch from
hazel bush or ounce, which seasoned
the whole day, and gave a robust ac-
fifty to the conscience, and so sud
denly, too, that it seemed more like
the development of a new faculty
than the rousing of an old one. This
was almost wholly masculine.
Feminine punishments consisted In
going to bed without supper, or shear
ing off from dinner the pie or slice of
pudding, or the infection of diet of
bread and water, or for henious Of
lenses the entire cutoff of supplies,
and the Imprisonment of the prisoner
IN supperEess bed.
The numberless petty offenses which
few up IN our boyhood path like dust,
or those jets of temper which pulled
out like smoke from an i'll cleansed
chimney. were treated with extepor-
lied punishments. Sometimes the
head was smartly snapped, or raped
with a thimble, or the ears received a
sudden box, sounding nearly as loud
as a clap of thunder; and these
amusing little reminders cf duty or
of sin, were varied by twitch Of the
hair, or a pull at the ear, or a shake
of the shoulders, which set all the
teeth ehatterIDg like al ague. Even
a smart pinch has its virtues n temi-
nine discipline.
Some forms of stu we're met with
one treatment, and some with an
other, though on what principle the
remedy was selected | never could
guess. For what particular sins are
dark closets beneficial? Is there any
virtue in the hand as a rubefacient2
Which of all the evils of Boys heart
IS best managed by tying him to a
chair or bed-post2
Long as punishment has been in
vogue, we doubt whether IL has ever |
been studied philosophically. It is
yet an empiric art, but not a science. |
Z Dung parents have to find their own
way to its performance, lighted only |
1y a dim recollection of their own |
passive experience.
Do children, lin general, need az,
much punishment as our fathers
seemed to think2 Admit that some |
children need more, do not the great
II number need less? Is NOT the rod /
! cheap substitute for parental skill?
There ought to be a statistical table /
ormed, with the following heads: /
children, Whipped lit
lie, Whipped fully, and Whipped
,reat deal. Then we could form a
Judgment of the benefit aceruing.
Are our most virtuous men to be
ound in the first or last class2
We would not be understood as
.eprobating corporal punishment.
Grateful for our youthful enjoyment
Is means of grace, we advocate a
Measure of it. But not upon all; i
iome children are better without it.
Whipping should not become com
non and vulgar. 1t should be re-
e<ved as a luxury, and served up in
striking manner, so as to fire the
Imagination while it stirs up the
lesh. Only for grave ofenses, for
)estial sins, for brutal conduct, for
most dishouorable and mean ofenses,
hould it be employed.
1t is a sin and shame to slap and 4
pinch, rap and snap, for every pecca-
lilo. Shall child be uncovered for
breaking plate, for tearing his
clothes, fora moments temper, for
hirking some. disagreeable work, for
unning off a-skating, for playing
ruant on the dazzlingest afternoon of
he year, when the militia are parad-
Dg and the drums beating. and the
Whole air full Of the very delirium of
emptation?
We shall not venture any advice on
his matter, which, after all, must be
ettled in every house for itself. But,
f we should ever venture to express
ourselves, we think it would be in |
bout this wise: Govern by rational
nd moral motives, and govern your
elf first: use the rod rarely, but
When you take it, make a jubilee Of
t, so that such an elect hour will
tand up like a monument IN the
hild's memory; and never use 1t ex-
ept as a kind of exorcism to expel
ONE animal demon.