The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1868-06-19
!SssssdaN Rea<SissS.
TAe Philosophy Of l-ssstshssest.
uxwurPKp CHILDREN, WHITFIELD LITTLE,
AND WHIPPED A GREAT DEAL
BI uKxnr vAap Bkncnl

Among the tender recollections of childhood
none have moro permanently established them
selves than the memory Of whippings. l do
not allude 10 such drubbings As one boy gives
TO another nor TO the fagellations Of the
schoolmaster nor to the rough-snd. tumble
chastisement occasionally administered by the
hirVd meu-but 10 the household discipline, the
wholesome manifestations Of parental moral
government There were punishments mascu-
line and feminine, acute and chronic, In series
or sum totals Very seldom did . woman's
erous Utilization In fresh-cut branch from
hazel bush, or ounce, which seasoned the whole
day, and gave . robust activity to the con.
science, and 30 suddenly. too, that II seemed
more like the development Of new faculty
than the arousing of an old one. This Was a.
most wholly masculine.
Feminine punishmeuts consisted IN going TO
bed without supper. or shesring of from din
ner the pie or slice Of pudding. or the intiction
Of diet Of bread and water. or for heinous OF.
fences the entire cutting on OF supplies, and
the imprisonment Of the culprit In supperless
bed.
fhs numberless petty offences which dew up
In our boyhood path Ike dust. or those Jets Of
temper which puffed out like smoke from an
Ill-cleansed chimney, were treated with extern
poriled punishments. Sometimes the head Was
smartiy snapped, or raped with thimble. or
the ears received sudden boz, sounding near
|iy a. loud a. . crack Of thunder and these
amusing little reminders Of duty or sin were
varied BY twitch Of the hair, or pull at the
ears, or shake from the shoulders which set
all the teeth s-chattering like an ague. Even Q
smart pinch has Its virtues In feminine disci-
pline. Some forms Of sin were met with one
treatment, and some with another, though on
what principle the remedy Was selected never
could guess For what particular sins are dark
closets bene6ciali Il there any virtue In the
hand a. . rubefacient. over stick employed as
Q counter-irritantf Which Of all the evils OF .
boys heart Is best managed by tying him to .
chair or bcsl-postl
Long a punishment has been In vogue. We
doubt whether Il has ever been studied philoso-
phically. II 10 yet IN empirio art. but not .
science. Young parents have to find their own
way 70 Its performance, lighted only by dim
recollection Of their own passive experience.
Do children, in general, need ss much pun
ishment rs our fathers seemed to thinkl Ad-
mit, that some children need mere, do not the
greater number need lessr ls not the rod
cheap substitute for parental skillf There
ought TO DO . statistical table formed, with
the following heads: Unwhipped children,
Q great deal. Then We could form Judgment
VI the benefits accruing. Are our most virtu-
Gus men TO be found in the frst or last classi
We would not be understood rs rcprobating
corporal punishment. Grateful for our own
youthful enjoyment Of such means Of grace,
We advocate due measure Of L. But not up
on all some children are better without IL.
Whipping should not become common and vul.
gar. II should be reserved as luxury, and
served up In striking manner. 50 As to fre the
Imagination, while il stirs up the aesh. Only
tor grave offences. for bestial sins, for brutal
conduct. for most dishonorable and mean Of
fences. should Il be employed.
II Is sin and shame 70 slap and pinch. nap
and snap for every peccadillo. Shall . child
be uncovered for breaking plate. for tearing
his clothes, for q moments temper, for shirk.
ing disagrceable work. for running OF skat-
Ing. for playing truant on the daItlingest amer
noon Of the year. when the militia are psrsding
and the drums beating. and the whole air full
Of the very delirium Of temptation!
We shall nos venture any advice on this mat
ter, which, Atsr all. must be settled In every
house for itsslf. But II We should ever venture
70 expires ourselves. We think u would b In
about this wise Govern by rational and moral
motives. and govern yourself 6rst ; use the rod
rarely, but when you take u, make jubilee OF
II, % that such an elect hour viii stand up Ike
Q monument In the child's memory and never
use Il except - . hind OF eIorcism to expel
some animal demou.-.E y. Ledger.