The Idaho world. [volume] (Idaho City, Idaho Territory) 1864-1918, 1871-03-02
IDAHO WORLD.
BY THAT VETERAN PARENT MARK TWAIN.

= ~ IS ~
Having reflected deeply, for half an
hour 'l UPON the subject Of domestic dis
cipline, I feel ike sspaaripg a few sug.
gestions relative to the best method Of
bringing up children. When be- 9 bach !,
elor without children / felt unjustifed
in abiding to the subject, but hold to
the doctrine that married men have a
right. to discuss all that pertains to the
position, either in fact or probability,
however remote the latter may be.
According to- my observation, the
most difficult time to bring up children
is in the morning. You can sometimes,
though seldom, bring them up in the
morning by yelling at them but the
effectiveness of this process diminishes
with its repetition, even when not en-
tirely neutralized by the children's trick
Of stopping their ears with the bed
clothes. The only prompt, effective,
and absolutely reliable method IS to
bring them up by the hair. If your
child has a good healthy scalp, without
any tendency to future badness, this
method will work with most gratifying
efficiency. Try it about once week,
and you will be surprised to observe
how its influence will extend through
the six days interval, inspiring your
child with the liveliest possible interest
in the respondent pageantry of sun
rise,- TO bring up darling child by
the hair requires the exercise of some
energy and frmness; but no affection
ate parent will hesitate at any little
sacrifice of this kind for the welfare of
his offspring.
Nothing can be more fatal to your
discipline than to allow your children
to contradict you. If you happen to
be betrayed into any misstatement or
exaggeration in their presence, do not
permit them to correct you Right or
wrong, you must obstinately insist on
your infallibility, and promptly sup
press every symptom of puerile skepti-
cism; with force, if need be. The mo-
ment you permit them to doubt your
nnerring wisdom, you will begin to for
felt their respect and pander to their
conceit. There can be no sadder spec
tacle than a parent surrounded by olive
branches who think they know more
than he does. I wildly remember how
my father-who was one of the most
rigid and successful of disciplinarians
:-qnelled the aspiring egotism that
prompted me to correct his careless re-
marks (when he was reckoning prob
lem in shillings), that five times twelve
was sixty-two and a'half. 49," said
he, climbing over his spectacles, and
surveying me grimly, think We know
moreh yer father? Come ERE to me-"
His invitation was too pressing to be
declined, and for q few excruciating
moments / reposed in bitter humiliation
across his left knee, with my neck in
the embrace of his LEFT arm.
didn't see him demonstrate his
mathematical accuracy with the palm
of his hand on the largest patch of my
trowsers, but l felt that the old man
was right; and when, after completely
eradicating my faith in the multiplied
ton table, he asked me how much five
times twelve was, insisted, with tears
in my eyes, that it was 621. "That's
rightp said he; "I'll larn ye to respect
yer father, if l have to thrash We twelve
times Q day, Now go'n water them
bosses, IN be lively, toop The old gen.
tlemaa didn't permit my respect for him
to wane much until the infammatory
rheumatism disabled him and even
then he continued to inspire me with
awe until I was thoroughly convinced
that his disability was permanent.
Unquestioning obedience is the very
essence of grace in childhood. When
you tell your child to do anything, and
he stopsito inquire why, it is advisable
to kindly but firmly fetch him rap on
the ear, and inform him !" that's why!n
He will soon get in the way of start
ing, with charming alacrity, at the first
word of command. ~ % fFTC},f.f
One of the most inveterate and an
noying traitsiof children is inquisitive-
ness; and if you are SO inconsiderate
asto attemptto crafty their omniver-
GUS curiosity you may as well prepare
to abdicate, for you will be nonplussed
by their questions dozen times day,
and in } 2 week your sagacity will be