Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1869-10-23
q. wHITMORE,
Duties which Parents Neglect-FrOm
the Note BOok Ola Eminent PLY 81
Publisher and Proprietor

clan.
1t is said of Cato, the Censor, that he
always superintended the bathing Of his
children. This may justly be considered
the wisest act of proverbially wise man.
Maria Theresa, amid all the cares of a
most eventful public life, found time daily
! to give her persoHa' attention TO the
details of bathing, dressing and feeding
of her large family of children. Such
EXAMPLES cf paterDal and maternal care
# children stand out in bright contrast
w 'th the affected indifference of our
wea dhier classes for personal attention
to III, ,ir nurseries.
Mrs s. informs me, with disdainful
,oss of her head, that / must ask the
nurse in egard to the condition of her
oh;id. She does not know what food it
taLas or wheu it is bathed, how it sleeps,
or what it wears She rarely sees the
child except when some genteel lady calls
and requests to see it. She even re-
marks with apparent pride that her little
a;rl nrefers the nurse, and will cry when
she iher molher) attempts to caress her.
Such acknowledgment is one OF the
many evidences that the rapidly increas-
inc wealth and luxury of our times are
alowlv but surely sspping the very foun-
dation of domestic life and happiness,
and thereby disintegrating our whole So
cisl structure. 80, cu
Having called to see the child of Mrs.
s., / was as usual referred to the
nurse for information. The child was
male and emaeiated, with peculiarly bril-
liant ewes, strangely indicative of her ap-
uroaching physical disability. Her hands
we're unsteady, and when spoken to
convulsiye tremor slightly distorted her
features | learned from the nurse-s
tbouehtless and inconsiderste young wo-
man-all the particulars OF her daily
management of the child, and, as j
feared. the further fact that the mother
never gave her any specific directions 10
rsgard TO the details Of the nursery. This
examination concluded, ] sought the
mother TO discharge most serious and
solemn duty.
"Your neglect of the common duties
Of a mother" pointedly replied to her
| inauities, "is already beginning to yield
| it,Isp;duste fruits The nurse, though
willing to DO ss directed, has bad no ex'
nerience with children of her own,
and hence has not the 6rst r'aternsl feel
inc for the child. To get through hei
work early, she swskens her in the
| mors;pg long before The child has n :
ished her slssp spd gives her bath u
there is no warn ssiSs Ehich happens
as often as every other deg, shs gives her
a cold bath. AT this hour the vital pow
,rs are low and i'll adapted to resist the
depression of q temperature thirty or
forty degrees bsloE that of the bed from
which she has Just besa isken. Her sys'
TEN reacts very ieebly. and al the fore
noon aud, perhaps, ell day she 10 pale,
cold sud languid. This depression Of
the vital forces congesIs ell the internal
organs, renders the circulation feeble /;
impsirs digestion and assi@i!ailon, and
dwarfs ali the nutritive processes.
"You are correct IN your opinion that
,ha child is going into a decline Non
butihs most vigorous children could long
Withstand The eyil effects Of such treat
ment Again, ihe food Of yopr child is
entirely pp6i for her. She ssis at tss
table with the seFsants, ana they ampse
themselves By giving heF tea, cosee,
sgeetmests, candies. etc. Bhs cas- pot
taken any bread or milk or meat in az
months Her vitality is, therefore, not
oplv depressed, but she Is deprived OF the
very food by which she isto be sustained.
But this is not all; the child has become
40 usrvously excitAble that ia the early
part Of the night she suffers severely