, 1874-11-29
NOTIONS ABOUT CHILDREN.
Mr.. Tallowbrig11t H.lmbly Makes
q Confession.

Mnch has been said in The TRIBUNE recently
about the mental and physical training Of chill
dren, aud matters connected herewith. The
fact that WINGED under the attack OF the cap
tious tencher who res.nted the intimation that
parent knew anything about, or had auy special
interest iD, his own children. as we'll as under
the response of the indignant parent who fancied
that he had some privileges whero his children
we're concerned the fact TINT was hit, come
the blow from what direction it might, will indi-
cate that have offended in nearly every dlrec-
tion, when systems Of discipline and training
are considered plead guilty to the charge Of
inconsistency in this important particular
hutnnly confess my sins, and offer some OBJ
Bervations to soften my fall.
The relationship OF childhood Of any special
grads to anv other grade. or to manhood and
wolnauAood, or to old age,
PUZZLES LIE,
old man Is am. It not only puzzles me when
proceed to investigate, but when simply cou-
template. nm fond OF children, and have al
Ways held ca,efuiy-oatlined theories as to their
treatment aud governments. But am lost in
confusion when I comprehend that have, i'll
the course Of my life stoutly upheld as many
theories as to government ae there are years in
the thoughtful period OF my existence. This
would strike me as terrible misfortune did
1 not know that my old neigllbors have been
dancing about in tho game strange way. The
procession Of the equinoxes WAS standing
1nystidcation to me in my schoolboy-d days. i
have never understood the matter clearly for
moro than half minute al time. and then at
long intervals, since those days. But the elu-
nox business never troubled Ins as has this eys-
ternatic changing of theories as to chiIdron and
their government.
The best disciplinarians, as rule, are
YOUNG PEOPLE.
refer now to theory 4 boy just released from
school has theory OF government shaped and
polished He is rigid discipliuazian, and
ia 60 enthusiastic aud earnest in the cause that
he does not hesitate n1o1lcns to volunteer i'll
formation, and to give, frA:uitousiy. instruction
to porBous as far advanced in ago as bis graud-
father He advises his mother as to the treat
meut of tho younger children. ind norailzeH for
the benefit OF tho young 1namu1= struggling with
her first bov, cautious even IN babvAood. He
has . straightforward COURSE marked out, tue
following OF which will Go away with al the
faults Of family aud school government that
baye cursed tho world for ages. AS q teacher
he has mission, auI that la to maintain order
Lot Us be Just to tho young nan, and say that
he
He is terribly in earnest, aud he carries his point
He does succeed III controlling children better
than dozen men, old and experienced. Ho has
3 theory, and ne demonstrates is application bJ
success Older people acknowledge hts succ26S
IN q difficult field, aud honor hin for it. His
system is symmetrical one, and he accomplish
cs what tha majority OF men a.e willing TO ed
init that they could not accomplish. This sltua-
ton is easlyunderstood An ardent young nature,
coming fresh from q field In which he has seen
Il - tShs
aa.urate e reform and he does. Ho goes to
work with impetus enough to overthrow 81 conf
mon opposition aad to make success sure. We
understand this. But now this queer aud nat
understandable elccaent cseep5 l1to his p.l;loso-
phy, HIS svoteI.. evolves from within itself q
neT eof,uess. Inconsistent with the position hrs:
occupied. Convinced by no outside logic. he ad-
mis- fault il his ;inelr-oois:cd theory, and
conscious Of no outside influence, he
CHANGES Ills PLANS.
Ho ia a. enthusiastic and Us earnest on the
new line Ms ol, the u:1 and ia success;ul But
scarcely hss he demonstrated tho prActicaol!ty
o1 his nl1y when he a53ndous Il: hnd 80, by
successive stages, tie uoTcs forward, uot:; there
comes time VIXEN lie laughs at It's own theories
~ first promulgated. He no longer exhibits
foye:ish inl,,a:isace to assist in the government
of families oateido his jurisdiction. He shrns
responsibility rather than courts il. As the heed
OF family he is very careful ~ to MS iirss chilj
aud it ulay be the second, third, aud fourth.
would be pained beyond description at an 1ln-
grateful word or deti1at LOOK. bus, before bis
BAR silvers, .......
HE ToIEnArE5 DIsogEDIESCE
in younger child, and accepts u!sSrateful "oEds
and defiant lcoas il quiet 1esienasou but ell
the Wills 1uaaea an effort to control. Whist has
come over the man? /? He is not less obserylng-
rot !ca3 yiEoroua-no. more careless.
Tho next stage comes. Tins 1n@u as grand
father not only permits d:sobed.eIca in his
In
towu1l juvenile offender as j symps!hlzer, and
eor,ctimes in lamo of wTathful Indignation.
will take his grauGchill from its own
fathers arms rather than see It pun'ahed. Tho
man who. US teacher, ientle=aiy enforced rules
OF tho sayczcst discir irl1ne, who governed other
people's children wish rod Of iron: who tol-
Grated no dieobedienco in his own family. Eas
turned his back on severity and his old plln-
cioles Of government, and Jet he lectures on
firmness. .. ,.
lationship. There is
a CURIOUS CHANGE
in the feeling towaid the child. The love OF the
young man Or young woman Tor ch1ld has
something of the sweethea1. element in 1t.
Tho love. iB strong and genuine, bat
Young man has psts among children, selected on
account Of their sweet faces or pretty manners.
He sees these children only when they are well
dressed and on their good behavior. aud be sur
lows him to see no faults. He never
investigates rs to whether tho children
aro worthy Of his lore, and ho cares to know
l1t;lo OF their home-life. II he should discover
that they arc rude aud petulant at home, ho ex-
cuges tho children because their parents do not
understand or appreciate them Ayoung man
in love with young woman ra1ely
secs any resemblance between the object
of his affections and his sister. So
with the Young mans love for child. He
turns from his own family to liz his affections
on some little fair-hairea, bright-eyed stranger.
and never admlts that the child can come do"n
to the realistic level OF lis little brothers and
sisters. This young man becomes father. OF
the Young woman becomes mother. and
there is ..........-.
A RADICAL CHANCE.
Every child in tho universe suffers by COM
nar7sou with the home child. There is senti-
mont, poetry. I'M abundance butt is all home
sentiment It magnides e1ccllences, and turns
arbitrarily from any contemplation Of faults.
Tae parent seas only with clcaross vlRion. &C.
conpapied by tenderness and charity, when his
ewes are turned homewa1d, There il no distant
worship, no dependence OF affection On good be-
hayior. The man comes down to Gloss 4uarse<s,
snd takes the child for better, for worse.
The child may be rude. but dare you say so to
r. Ea.-o 1,e1r h,yt