New-York tribune., 1874-12-22
ROOES ABOCT CHIL DnHN.
MHs. HAMrRT0N's "MIREoR OF TRUTH" NrEStRl
NooSING>," BY GAIL HAMLioN-" WHAT BOY,
BY JULIA A. WILLS.
"Stories for chillrcn,' says Mr. Philip Gil

Z
NooSING>," BY GAIL HANlioN-" WHAT 4 Boy.
BY JULIA A. WILLIS
"Storics for children" says Mr.. Philip Gil
bert u.ncron, may los Givr;cd ihto three clasScS.
There Is the story winch anl.rs by the association Of
incunaruoTs iit:-, aud written sirnply TO anus"
there story with Gccidc! lnui!, "rilten with
the moral constantly III view; and aSty, there Is the
story Ia which audience OF children would hardly SIS
pcct the existence OF any Il, finite moral. aud yet an
intelligent grown person who happens 10 he listening,
would at once detect und,Icurtcat ot criticism or
satire which he wond follow with interest, and whca.
ldreG. Inn would he the most interesting ingredient
In the cunrJsion" E'p."rS OF Tue Mirror Of Truth.
ana other SoIi,s" ly Mr~ Engchic Ildnrr,on, wife OF
the accomplished critic just cited. will lie at 10 loss
which of these tlroc classes her book IL to bc
ass:sucd vein of very delicate satire aud suSSrst0r
runs through all the tales ot which 1t Is com
pn .rd Tnls is cons picuos the history Of "Glh,
u Ulthui prince. To whom IL presented two monkeys
laincd respectively JorkO ard .!acka EHrhdnrd with
these pets, Prince I.lb dcN"tcs himself to Initiating
their nunitrs and trChs. and the result Is d,s ,>ruus
Is fairly his c legs G ilil learns To turn
snucrse;s by way of ply to all homage pal to him
and to receive the court dl-naroS with rSiin con-
tortions caught from j Icka. (which those venerable
griLdcrs declare to tc tcclarmingy IT,, smiling all tue
time wlih t!.cir lips an swallowing thcIr mUrc ton.
,tIcrs grow serious when, later on the monkey ii
prince steals tie Great Seal of Office. iNcs 1t to al
sorts OF p:nciIna'On5, lhSitIts thc einIIaSsa-
durs of II foreign p"wrr, brings war,
and puts the lives Of eminent citiz
into p"lIl. He grows unrIrahle that Vigilance
committee is formed ami Giini, seized at dra of nght.
bound, gagged, and carried U finds himself ft alone
q drsolltr island, with moAkrvS for his sole COM
,lu.rn-. H. remains TIM island for years. hi-
scmbdncc To an oranG-oiang daily incrrLsiIg tll at
Length arrives Prof. FaLZ Granrrrc Il naturalist III
search of new specimens. captures the unhappy GlDi
bdpz's him "SiHiFS L21" IT, or the TtlniGg Monkey,
and bears INN Of tvump...ntly in hanhcaCs There
narkcd originality IN this very amusing story, ana
decd IN the whole book which, it is 10 I've 0prG j. hut
a precursor Of others equally fresh and eutcItuInG
from Mrs. HamcTtUn'S pen
"Nursrry E0"nings." by Gail Hamilton. published hy
rpcr * Brothers, Is mot. vii! iuicr, book for
the entertainment Of children it Is addressed to their
fathers and mothers. and though brightly written il
soriuu is meant. Neither Is it hc ohrc, that lis
wrcr look upon her su'3ct frOm the point view of
outsider and that, therefore, her opinions of less
worth The opinions OF outsiders are sometimes most
valuable for unhppilT it s precisely those who have
children of their OWL who often seem most blind and
most indif rent TO childish wants and childish natures.
Tuis IL tho natural result Of Few persons
have sufficient breadth OF personal atmO phcrc to enable
them place il fair perspective those who live closest
to their sides. allied To Their lives Possessed 1t were
and made over to them tor their own. Their parents
tllr brothers aud biStcra their children are their iu
acn,blc property; nei her to be Judged, viewed
nor treated they treat tho parents brothers and
sisters children Of other people. Tnev accept they
love thcm but they hardly recognize or weigh them
indiyidual, aud in the heat and burden Of the day they
too often deny the Justice the sympathy, the common
courtesy evcn which they accord to strangers pecdly
their ch:;,;ren complex yet so apparently simple,
50 receptive yet responsive 30 careless, intent,
battling their intcecs, bringing d" the counsel OF the
wisc the vanr OF ih, brave" to utter confusion. Men
and women call them theirs but are they Hear these
pcals OF wisdom from Gail Hamilton: Every child IN
the child Of truly AZ II there were no God but
o is also tho child OF God truly Us IL there
man."-"By your duty nnd your love to him he Is
yours and by no other bOnd."" You hare absolutely
rigt HIM. ereept such as Is created W your Oba
ton opard him. What that is can be determined by
prec plan but by close aud loving observation
OF each individual case"
Further on the reader will find these really noble
words:
"why should not children DO brought up from the
beginning good terms with their Makeri 1t should
be assumed at tho Outset that they arc His children
cousecrated to Him by tho wOrd the deed, tho very
nature OF their parents bound to Him by thor own
natural love and liking he IS their most loving parent
whom they love az fast they Learn. They will often
SIN against Him. as they often sin agaipst their
father and mother from these little outhursts n,
childish rebellion. impatience. or fatigue we do ,ot
INFER state OF continuous hatred to the mother Why
snouu VIC hIer stao 0f hatred 10 Cod They are not
because the child hates his parcns but because sv,f
and sudden temptations ovcrboar his sense OF duty An
the way along. through the thiok Of hts worst acton
MS iove maintains its strong and equal current |
Stfeng'honing with his strength. growing clear and
calm ana pure as nc Increases In wisdom and staur,
and never losing Itself when It Inngles with ths
water OF the river OF life. 30 lot the little child ho
taught to oyo God not against but In unison with bis
nature"
Here u sketch sitter nature The tiuy rose. bud |