Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-05-21
C0mbatiYeneSS.

DOMESTIC CONFUSION, even in the best
regulated families, may be confidently ex-
pected when the parents go out and leave
the elder child, or children, to take care of
the younger. To quote the expression of
an American humOriSt the question arises,
why is this thus?" Why does rebellion
almost universally arise against the dele
gated authority of the eldest son or daugh-
ter who is appointed for the time head
OF the house" Is it entirely owing to the
innate combativeness of the younger fry?
or is 1t not rather quite as much the con-
sequence Of the disagreeable manner in
which the older assert their reign? If the
absent parents could only see the airs
which their Juvenile lieutenants put on,
and hear the tone in which they command
or prohibit, threaten or denounce, GER
tainly the younger "rebels" would not be
blamed unqualifedly. They usually have
some reason in their resistance. And next
comes the question, where and how do
children learn to "domineer'' and lord it
over those who are mOmently put in their
charge? Where did they acquire the tone
and the manner which would be ridicu-
lous If they were not hateful? What copy
do they follow and exagerate? Children
are universally imitators. And it may
reasonably be suspected that many of
them do not require to go from home to
learn how to make the assertion of au-
thority disagreeable. Children cannot be
expected to understand the force of power
when exerted with gentleness of
manner. But their elders might
be supposed, having graduated
from childhood and advanced to the
relation of parents, to know enough of
both conditions to comprehend the bear
ing of each. Yet it is wonderful how lit
tie practical use is made, in after wears, of
the experiences of childhood, much ais
poets and sentimentalists like to talk of
" childhoOd's memories" What people
usually remember is not very definite,
neither is it always very pleasant. Viewed
from the child's side, there is great deal
of injustice done to children. Would
it not be well for parents sometimes to
try to recall what was the reason why, as
children, they were, If not disobedient,
at least ungracious? Firmness is indis-
pensable-but even the rocks are covered
with moss. And since frmness is so
necessary, it is the part of wisdom not to
seek or invent unnecessary causes for its
exhibition, or to make issues when they
can be avoided. In other words, there
is prudence in leaving some minor mat
tiers entirely to the choice and free action
of the children themselves. Those who
are followed by continued injunctiOns, as
if they had no mind and discretion of
their own, are weakened rather than
strengthened by constant watching. They
are so persistently led that they cannot
walk alone, except by starting off in some
cratic direction which is all the more
enjoyable because it has not been
TIoI Il
it has a flavor of presumed disobedience
the average human infant finds that fla
vor pleasant and piquant rather than 9TH
erwise. Whoever has authority to exert,
whether that of parent over children, q
teacher over pupils, or an official over
men, will meet Difference and cheerful
compliance if he has the tact to rule
without parading his authority in an of
fensive manner! Cases sometimes arise
when only rude force will answer. But
these instances are exceptional; and the
man or woman of quiet, calm demeanor
will generally accomplish much more
than the person ofopposite character. Def
erence to pleasantly-eXerted authority
requires no sacrifice of independence.
Children who rebel against each other
in the case supposed above, are only re-
hearsing the parts they may perform when
they enter upon the work of life in man.
hood. Men," says the trite prOverb, are
but children of a larger growth" and the
school room and the nursery fOreshadOw
the battles of life. Politeness, which
costs nothing, is worth everything
tits a power in the world, and has made
the success and good fortune of many q
man whose superiOrs in intellect and &C
quirements have miserably failed-failed
simply because they were unceasing COM
batants in needless battles of their own
provocation. PhiLadelp75iG Ledger.