Fayette County herald. [volume] (Washington [Washington Court House], Fayette County, O. [Ohio]) 1860-1???, 1871-01-26
ADVICE TO PARENTS.
A Word OF Sage Counsel, by Mark
Twain.

Having reflected deeply for a
half hour, upon the subject of do
nestle discipline, feel like spar.
ing few suggestions relative to
the best method Of bringing up
children. Being a bachelor without
children, my suggestions are as
likely to be as disinterested as if
had never seen a child.
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 effective
ness Of this process diminishes by
its repetition, even when not entire
nutralized by the children's trick Of
stopping their ears with the bed
clothes. The only prompt, etfec-
tive aud absolutely reliable method
is to bring them up by the hair, If
your child has good scalp with
out any tendency to a premature
badness, this method will work
with most gratifying efficiency.
Try it about once a week, and you
will be surprised to observe how
its influence will extend through
the six days interval, inspiring the
child with livelest possible interest
in the resplendent pogcantry ofsun-
rise. To bring up darling child
by the hair requires the exercise Of
some energy and frmness; but no
etfectionate parent will hesitate at
any little sacrifice of this kind for
the welfare Of his offspring
Nothing can be more fatal to dis
cipline. than to allow your children
to contradict you. If you happen
to be betrayed into any ms state
ment or eXerageration in their pres
ence, don't permit them to correct
you. Right or wrong, you must
obstinately insist on your infalli-
bility, and promptly suppress every
symtom of pnenle skepticism with
force if need be. The moment You
permit them to doubt your uner-
ring wisdom, You will begin to for
felt their respect and pandPr to
their conceit There can | e no sad.
der spectacle than a parent sur
rounded by olive branches who
think they know moro than he does
| vividly remember how my fa-
ther-wllo was one of the most
rigid and successful Of discipline
rians-quelled the aspiring egotism
that prompted me to correct his
careless remark (when he was reck
oning aproblem in shillngs), that
five times twelve were siXty;two
and a half. 80" said he, climb
ing over his spectacles and survey
ing me rmly, aye think We know
yer father, hey? Come to
me!' His invitation was too very
to be declined, and for a
few excruciating moments ! re-
posed in bitter humiliation across
bis left knee, with my neck in the
embrace of his left arm.
/ didn't, see him demonstrate his
accuracy, with the
palm of his right hand on the larg-
est patch of my trowsers, but felt
hat the old man was right; and
when, after completely eradicating
NY faith in the multiplication table,
ne asked me how much five times
5welve was, insisted with tears in
ny eyes, that itlNas sixty-two and
/ half. "That's right" said he, II
will learn you to respect your IA
her, if | have to thrash you twelve
lines a day Now go'n water them
lorses, n he lively, tool" The old
gentleman didn't permit my re-
pect for him to wane much, until
he infiammatory rhumatism disa-
lied him, even then he continued
o inspire me with awe until ] was
hrouehly convinced that his disa-
,ilitywas permanent.
Unquestioned obedience is the
grace of childhood. |