Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1874-10-30
Family Government.

How shall children be tralnea ny
thoughtful, careful parents at hon,e
1t is safe to say that every reauer VI enlS
article would answer this question ulIei-
emily. There is the father who has ODE
dent children. He boasts that he only
needs TO speak once to insure quiet or
the performance of any task he may al
lot. When he comes into the room the
laughter is hushed-the blast of tin
trumpets ceases. Tommy and Jamie
and Jack fold their arms demurely,
glance at the lord of the mansion fur
lively, and creep out the door at the first
chance to have "slathersn of fun in the
garden or garnet. His household is gov
erned Systematically, but is it not gov
erned too much? Though anything but
pleasant at times, we still delight In see"
inc the father set upon by the children
as if he were nothing but an elder child
himself We like to see him protesting
and scoding seriously at the little ones
for pinching his legs, and behold his IN.
dignant words smothered by the kisses OF
the baby, who does not fear his froWns.
However disagreeable it may be to see
children noisy and boisterous in the pres
ence and in spite Of the circumstances
of their parents, we may be pretty sure
that they do not improve the opportunity
when the backs of the father and mother
are turned to do worse. For ourselves
then we would rather witness too much
liberty than too much restriction; too
much freedom than too much fear. is
there not happy medium, however,
which avoids unhridled license on the
one hand and craven and unhealthy sub
mission on the other? We all know that
there is. We 90 into some families where
an air of happiness and order reigns on
every hand The parents and the visit
ors are not interrupted by ill-mannered
children, but neither are the children
froWned into silence by threatening ges-
ture or promised punishment 1t seems
perfectly natural that everything should
run smoothly; that the boys should come
in and go out at the right time; that the
girls should speak when desired, and
should be silent when it is proper for
them to be 50. Even the baby
goes to sleep at precisely the
FIGHT time, or wakes up not
moment too soon to give the admiring
visitor a chance to pinch it's fat cheeks
and depart Now how does all this come
about? We answer that much of it is
the fruit of Il daily observance of order
and propriety, as much when the family
are alone as when strangers are by. We
cannot expect children to have stock of
modesty, prOpriety and pOliteness by
them to use only on particular occasions.
These adornments should be put on
every day and worn as constantly as
dress, until by and by they become so
much part of the child that he cannot
do without them. We suppose there is
not mother in the country who has not
told her child to say "Thank you" when
offered anything by stranger, and she
is surprised and mortified when the boy
or Girl neglects this, after such repeated
adIuratiOns. But does she herself say it
to the child, to the servant, to all about
the household who do her service? Not
at all; if she did, there would be no
necessity for impressing it on the mem
DRY of her children. 1t would grow into
their language until it would be as natu-
raj as eyes" or "nO." And as with this,
so also with all the little prOprieties
which grace and gladden. life. If they
are not in use in the home they are apt
to be hid on State occasions; or if
brought forth at all, are apt to look so
suspiciOusly new and awkward as to tell
the story of their rare appearance, and
reveal the incivility behind them. Polite
ness costs nothing, and American so
c1ety generally is lacking in it. Espe-
cially are the children of the present gen
Grafton, and not only children but young
men and women, lacking in that respect
for aged persons so proper in the young.
In this we have not advanced, but re-
ceded There is a careless Indifference,
an ignoring of the presence, n contemptu-
Gus treatment of old people by younger
ones, nowadays, of which we all ought to
be heartily ashamed. The first lesson
that children should learn is veneratiOn
for age and let them learn this, as they
learn the other graCes, from the example
instead of the precept of their parents.
Children should be taught to speak
we'll of everybody. The child that al
ways has something evil to tel of others
will grow up, if left unchecked, that most
contemplate Of all persons-a back
bitter. Usually evil speaking is learned
at home, and when we hear d child con-
tidentially slandering playmate we may
be pretty certain that this is but q repe-
tition of something it has heard from
older persons. Let the child hear you
speak nothing but good of your neigh
bOrs, and so from association he VII
learn to speak we'll of all.
Finally, speaking for oucselves, we do
not believe in severity to children. The
father who goverrsDy fear may control
his family perfectly while they are young,
but tiny will come when timdity will
depart, and then his power is gone. If,
instead of being a stern ruler, he is the
confidential friend and adviser of his
children, his influence does not cease
when they are beyond his physical gov
eminent, but extends through life. EX-
pcriCnCC will show, we think, that kind
ness, a willingness to make allowances
for youth, judicious praise when it is
possible to give it, and generally q dis
position on the part of the parents to
give children their time, confidence and
love, are better far than that cold Sc
verify which repels them and makes
them eager to escape the presence and
observation of the father or mother.
"Spare the rod and spoil the child"
though uttered by wise man, was in
our estimation a most erroneous con-
clusion. Experience does not prove it
to be true, and experience is the best
guide for us.-Lnter- Ocean.