The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1868-12-02

The chidren's remarks on political sub
jects tickled me most, for the IeasOn per
baps, that have so rarely heard anything
of the sort from children at home. A snal
boy OF eight will stand up to you "Wha
10 you think, sir, of the state Of the conn
try?"
/ | remember heing amused, beyond ex
preston, at one little boy in Brooklyn, who
during tt time of the impeachment trial
began, nDe evening at supper, to upbraid
his father for having supported Andrew
johnson.
In one of my former papers spoke Of q
little Canadian eirl. who in the Eidst of u
conversation on politics, threw in her opin.
ion that Canada should have had Maine and
part of New Hampshire. A ease suggest
ed by its similarity occurred in Boston,
where little girl, not much higher than
my knee, with whom was playing game
on the carpet, asked me, with strluu,
countenance, what effect thought the sc-
QUESTION of Russian America would have
on Great Britain. laughed, the question
was so odd; but, on seeing the little eyes
looking up into my face in mute surprise,
recovered myself as suddenly as possible,
and end, avored TO put matters right by say
ing that the thing mi ht possibly lead tO
some snowballing between the two nations.
But the little ro,itician in petlicoats eyi-
DENLY thought this was trifing with grave
subject, and said no more.
| There is one unpleasant features Of Amer
lean precocity-it tends much more lre-
quently than here to pertness, and utter
want of reverence tor parents. Papa,
don't be foolish | heard one little girl
| say when her father was attempting to de>
scribe to ME how some comical Frenchman
had spoken at public meeting. You will
sometimes hear child say to its parent,
You get away" or "Dont trouble me
just now" The parent never seemed to
me to feel this as Scotch parent would
| remember an indulgent father bringing
in bunch Of grapes tor his little boy -
Come, You are a good fellow after all, said
the child cheerfully. The parent seemed
to b., rather gratifiea at So kind q recogni
tiefi on the rart OF his son.
Remember another brave little fellow Of
four years old who sat near me at dinner,
on tall, slim nursery chair, viping his
mouth after the first coarse, and saying
Give me some of that tart, mamma,
and ring tht bell for Emna; want some
fresh waterl'
This is only one case out of many that
helps to explpin what New England lady
meant when she said, II am learning to be d
1pciic g5n,enH' Parents, obey your chill
dren in all things, is the new idea. 1t is
not, alter all, SO great a stretch to anticl-
pate, as sotne' ody suggests, that we shall
by-and by see on the signhoard Of some
American store-''John Smith Il Father.
Another incident occurs to ME in connec-
ton with the same little fellow who directed
his mother to ring the bell. One day, when
dinner was over, his mamma said to him
wipe your mouth, darling.
Precocity looked grasely at her. Say
ph ase :. q,
well, darling, please.
Prococity wiped his lips solemnly as if
an importcnt moral lesson had been given,
and requested to he lifted down from his
chair
There is much less OF this in the South,
where subordination is more recognized,
and where the modes of thought and feel
ing are more like our own. But this is the
growing idea in the Neutrality-suspicious.,
reciprocity, the sinking cf old and even
natural distinctions in democratic equality
Do to me whatever y9p expect me to do
to you.
Let it not be supposed however, that
American children are rude, or il>bebaved.
On the contrary they struck me as more
polite, more ronsderate, more oderly, as a
general rule, than our own; but they need
to be dealt with in different way You
must treat with them as persons who have
a will of their own, and right to exercise
it. You must appeal to their reason and
good sense. If you appeal merely to your
own authority, you are apt to get pert an
swer
Remember who yuu are talking to- sr?'
said an indgnaht parent to iractlous boy;
Il am your father, SIR.
''W eli, who's to blame fer that?" said
young impertinence; "'taint me-?
One little boy to whom | huve already
referred, was making himself very disagree
able on one occasion when his mother had
him with her on visit to some friends
She took him to the bedroom, aud told him
that if he did not behave himself she would
shut him up in the closet.
You can't. There sin't closet here"
saiG he child triumphantly.
I'm rrt you into. that wardrobe, then. "
mo, you won't
Il will. "
you try I'll"
She took him instantly, put him in, and
turned the lock.
Thereupon Young America began to
kick upa tremendous noise inside, batter
ing the doors Of the wardrobe as if he would
have knocked them off their hinges. His
mother, fearful that he would do mischief
eitfer to himself or to the furniture, and
that the house was not hers,
took him out and said, in great dist ress:
20, George, | don't know what to do
with you!'
Don't you2' said he, looking up into
her face.
mo, indeed. I don't"
"Then," saiG he, iii that Is SO, I'll be-
have;'-which he accordingly did, march
ing into the o.her room with her, and con-
ducting himself tor the rest of u e evening
like little gentleman. She had capitulat,
ed given up the struggle for authority.
He was now behaving on his own response.
b,lity.
The case suggests smother which illustrates
the same point, but hos a grotesque feature
of its own. A gentleman in Northampton
with whom spent very delightful week,
and who belongs to one of the old Puritan
families, told me that for several years he
had tried whipping with his boy, but found
il Intellectual. On one occasion the boy
was caught in an oft repeated fault. His
father took him to his room; upbraided him
for his persistent disobedience; reminded
him (which was probably Unnecessary that
he had several times been obliged, in the
way Of parental duty, apply the rod of
corrections; that it seemed to have as yet
been in vain; that he was much dishearten
ed, and was at loss what to do with him.
A bright thought occurred to the boy. -
Father, said he suppose you pray"
The father was good man, anG could
not refuse to do this. But having strong