Holmes County Republican. [volume] (Millersburg, Holmes Co., O. [Ohio]) 1870-1895, 1874-01-22

FATAL INDULGENCE.-If we should |
assert that there are many parents in
our own midst, and throughout our land
who are guilty of killing their little
enes, We should not be believed in re-
gard to the statement. But we do, |
nevertheless, state that such is positive
ly fact. Although their mode of ac-
complishing the act may differ widely
from that of the wicked Herod, whose
evil fame gathers blackness with the
centuries. yet the same results reached
without particle of his intention. 1t
is ali done through mistaken kindness.
Fathers and mothers, perfectly amiable
and lovely people, to please their dar-
lings often give them food which the
digestive organs of a child cannot as
simulate, and which produce disturb
ance of the brain and stomach that in
some cases terminate in fatal conges-
ton, while in others they sow the seeds
for long years of dyspepsia and wretch
edness. Neglect Of proper ventilation,
carelessness in adaptingzdress toStheI
changes of the weather, and oyerfeed-l
ing and cramming children with dain--
ties, are overshadowing many homes
with the gloom of bereavement which
is charged to the account of a myste-
rious Providence. The,truth IS, we Of
ten wickedIy charge upon Providence,
what we ought remorsefully to ascribe
to ourselves. The universe from the
greatest to the least of its parts, is not
under the control of accidents, but un-
der the reign of wise and benefcent
laws. If we act in contradiction to the
laws, we must suffer the consequence.
We put ourselves in the way Of an or
dinance of nature, and complain that
its wheels as they roll crush us beneath
their weight. We have no business to
sin in this way through want of in
formation, especially in these days.
Treatises on dietetics are numerous,
journals of health abound, great think
ers bring their minds to bear on the
problems of sanitary science, and still
the average well-to-do American cfti-
zen goes on feeding his precccious little
ones on an indiscriminate tumble OF
pickles, preserves, candy, plum cake,
mince pies, and kindred articles of diet.
The simple porridge or bread and milk
or bread and butter and jam, which
give Scotch and English children their
well-knit frames and ruddy checks,
would be disdained by many Of our
little republican princes. Far better Of
5 are the children of the poor than those
? of the rich in this respect, for the plain
e food to which they are confined aids in
3 sturdy development OF the physical
: powers, and fits them to bear the veal
Y and tear of life's vicissitudes.
Parental love can show itself i'm nj
u tenderer or wiser way than by denying
and Withholding from the little one
i tempting food which is sure to under
u mine their health, and which may de
stroy life. Dishes which may not harm
adults may be very hurtfnl to children
u vet there is wide range of food whicl
both may eat without danger. Th
trifling' self-denial which prefers to d
without pastry and condiments rathe
y y than to place them In the children
n way, ought not to be beyond any rea
e, sonable parents power. So plain an
J. simple are the laws of healthful living
~ and SO hard is the way of the transgres
re sor that word to the thoughtful ougl
not to be spoken in vain.