Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1872-01-04
New And Them

speak IN public.
.'Nsw And Them .
1 am looking at the children of the
present day, aud thinking of those of the
past. Looking, l contrast them eunfayor-
ably, if there is any longer such a period
as childhood or girlhood. 1t appears to
me that the extremes have met, and that
from the baby, energies the woman
These reflections and conclusions arise
from what l see, and the knowledge | pos
sess of the children of days past. What
would q child IL speak now of what used
to be thought a child,) of eight, ten or
twelve years, think, in the city of New
York, of being dressed IN plain calico or
nerino, untrimmed. low neckcd and short
sleeves. and rising at Eve in the morning
to- practice an hour, in a room without
FIRE! TO play in the cold and snow, re-
curing no wrapping, nor taking any cold
from such exercise-to study from half
past six to nine in the evening, and work
faithfully six hours during the day! Can
you find at this day a girl we'll born, well
educated, in one of the best schools New
York city afforded, who never, until after
the age of fourteen, had ever attended
pal ty, concert, or circus! | know at that
old time. many, and the writer of this ar
ticle was one of twelve in the same class
who attended this school. and who in six
years never lest a day nor changed n
teacher. All too were the children Of
wealthy parents, but fortunately of par
ents who looked on education as of para
mount Importance considering it wiser
to develop their children's minds by cult
waiting head and heart, rather than incit-
ing only rivalry in dress and admiration.
L very much fear if the question now
were put, "What is the chief end of
man." the reply would be. that of man,
to gain money by any means. and that Of
woman, to settle success 'ully in lifc.-
Here again is a marked difference. 1
reeollect, in my school days. to have
heard that the parent of one of my school
mates had failed. 1t actually cast a
gloom over the whole establishment, be-
cause he was thought to have kept back
something from his creditors! How Eu-
topian in this day Look at the number
of divorces now and then. Then such
things were almost unknown. and were
thought disgraceful in the extreme. i
grant that in some cases there was too
much restraint, too much expected of the
young, but has the excessive liberty now
permitted improved their condition p
Now that the parent has become the ruled
instead of the ruler, are the children ply
sically able 10 endure as those of the past
we're? Are not most girls and indeed
boys, too. nervous and generally detcate?
Why, at twenty, | would have laughed at
such an idea as having nerves-now it is
not an affectation. l have seen the hands
of a tout looking boy shakes as he wrote,
like that of an old man, and every day
brings to my knowledge instances Of ply
steal inability to application as of yore. |
saw an idle brother of mine feruled until
his hanl blcd | admit this was terribly
severe, but mark the result. Everything
else had been tried to induce him to study
was physically lazy and fast beeom-
ing worthless. knowing that the punish
ment was mcrite confident that any APP
peal to his parents would be of no avail,
the youngstcr took to his books, and be-
fore attaining his twenty-6rst year was
to the bar, with the highest en-
comiums from the Supreme Judges ; one
of whom shook him warmly by the hand
aud wished him success, although an en-
tire stranger to him. and while he lived
he mover relapsed into Incidence, but was
beloved and honored by all who knew
him. Children of the present day have
responsibilities-aii, even those of ten
der years, should be taught to know that
they exert an influence for good or i'll,
and that in some way or other they can
be useful There is plenty of time after
days are over for fashionable dIssi-
patton ; and if children are properly
reared, cew will desire what is honorably
and honestly beyond their reach. ChI-
dren should have warm, substantial cloth
ing, abundance and variety of food we'll
prepared and served. regular hours. coed
bathing, regular and frequent exercise +;
and then, and only then, ought you 20 ex-
pect the mental labor necessary to make
them men and women. Their studies
should never be intensified from frivolous
causes, and they should be taught that
high mental culture is worth more thsn
any fortune. / am not writing thecreti-
cally, but practically-from experience.
Necessity, or perhaps / should more pro-
perly say misfortune, has compelled me
to teach. and it is the difficulties in the
way of success 1 daily encounter. that in
duces me to pen this article. No o has
tasted moro fully of life's pleasures than
/, yet l unhesitatingly gave them up and
educated my own children rather than
enjoy Injuries at their expense. do not
believe in severity-it is rarel., il svef.
necessary. but it is utterly impossible to
educate a child mentally. morally or ply
sically. if the present system is continued
In, and the race will continue to degener-
ate until ne shall be pigmies indeed.
s. w. C..