Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1871-02-09
ChEIIren's Parties.-A Vigorous
Protest against Cruelty 10 the
Little Ones.
BY FANNY FERN.

As conducted now, they are simply an
Invention of the Devil Little creatures
of the ages of three, four and six. up to
twelve, stripped of their usual warm cloth
ing-for these Liliputian carouses are
mostly in bedizened in silks and
laces. and oftentimes in their mothers
Jewels, sent ont at time when they should
be comfortably tucked in bed, with SIM
pie bowlful of bread and milk under their
night-gowns aping in their dances all the
adult puerilities treated to mess of in
digestibles, at loaded supper-table, suf-
ficient to try the stomach of an ostrich
Surely, if this is not murder of the inno-
cents, what can be?
1t is melancholy to read. in some paper
unusually hard up for ''items," the ac-
count of modern child's party. What
farce it is Nor is it always given to
'splease the children" as it is ostensibly
affirmed. Some foolishly ambitious pa
rents, vrlgarly eager for show and notorl-
ETY., send invitations to houses which they
themselves never have entered, for the
acceptance of the children there, who have
perhaps gone to the same school with their
own, or played in the same square or
street, thus collecting sixty or hundred,
to sacrifice them in the manner and for the
purpose above stated considering it suf-
fcient reward if the paragraph concerning
it, which they forward to some paper, in
which their own praises are very literally
set forth, should catch the rowing eye Of
some person who would consider them
save the mark !-'' fashionable p Many
short little grave might have inscribed
upon its head-stone Died of child's
party.
Now. in this neck to neck race, of shod-
dy after Fashion. one would not complain
if they only made laughing-stocks and
victims of themselves. But we call loudly
ON Mr.. Bergh. when he gets through with
his cats, dogs and horses. to look after this
cruelty to ctiJdren-this sacrifice of them
by shoddy ambition. 1t is pitiful to near
these baby bellies talking Of partners" and
dresses" and diamonds. More pitiful
still to hear the little beaux discussing the
merits and dement's of champagne and
sherry. We pity the poor waits of the
street, as we term them. L often think
that even tney DdVe Uetler chdhCO 'h@h
the children of such parents, to become
decent, intelligent members of society
They are often called "little ruffians." L
maintain that there is no ruffianism to ex-
ceed that of some of the well-dressed boys
of cities; no mean cowardice to exceed
theirs no "vulgarity'' to compare with
that of the boy who. pluming himself up
on fine clothes. would hurl an insulting
word to shiyering poverty, or throw stones
at women or children from a safe locality.
Are these, forsooth, young gentlemen ?
Are these boys fit to be companions to
gentle little girls, at children's parties OF
elsewhere?
fthese giyers of children's parties would
| devote the same energy and time to then
respectable "bringing up" that they do tc
these foolish and vulgar exhibitions, the
same time to their grammar and their NOR
ais, that they now give to their clothes
and their dancing, it would be benefit a
once to themselves and the community il
which they dwell.