Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1874-11-12

WIN intent 10 Use IL In ScnemeS OF this
nature, then they might be found guilty
under this count.
Family Government.
How shall children be trained by
thoughtful, careful parents at home!
1t is safe to say that every reader o
this article would answer this question
differently. There is the father who
has ObedieDt children. He buasts thai
he only needs to speak once TO insure
quiet or the performance of any task he
may allot. When he comes into the
room the laughter is hushed-the blast
OF tin trumpets ceases. Tommy and
Jamie and Jack fold their arms de.
murely, glance at the lord of the man.
sion furtively, and creep out the door
at the first glance TO have 'slathers of
fun in the garden or garret. His
household is governed Systematically,
but is.it not governed too much? Tho
anything but pleasant at times, we
still delight in seeing the father set
upon by the children as if he werenoth-
ing but an elder child himself. We
like to see him protesting and scold-
ing seriously at the little ones for pinch
ing his legs, and behold his indignant
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
presence and in spite of the remOn-
strances of their parents, we may te
pretty sure that their bad side is to-
ward us, and 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 tCO much liberty than
too much restriction; too much free
dom than too much fear. Is there
not a happy medium, however, which
avoids unbridled license on the one
hand and a craven unhealthy submis-
sion on the other? We all know that
there is. We go into some families
where an air of happiness and order
reigns on every hand. The parents
and the visitors are not interrupted
by ill-mannered children, but neither
are the children frOwDed into silence
by threatening gesture or promised
punishment. 1t seems perfectly natu-
raj that everything should run smooth
ly; that the boys should come In and
go out at the right lime; that the girls
should speak when desired, and should
be silent when it is proper for them TO
be 80. Even the baby goes to sleep at
precisely the right time, or wakes up
not a moment too soon to give the adj
miring visitor chance to pinch its fat
cheeks and depart. Now how does
all this come about? We answer that
much of it is the fruit of q daily obser-
vance 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 a
mother in. the, cauntry 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 re-
peated adjuratIons. But does she her.
self 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 no necessity for impresslng it on
the memory of her children. 1t would
grow into their language untilit would
be as natural as yes 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, arel
apt to look so suspiciOusly new and
awkward as to tell the story of their
rare appearance, and reveal the incl
Witty behind them. POliteness costs
nothing, and American society gener-
ally is lacking in it.. Especially arel
the children of the present generation, I
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 rece-
ced, There is careless Indifference, AN
ignoring of the presence, contemptu-
Gus treatment Of old people by young
er ones, nowadays. of which We all
ought to be heartily ashamed. The
first lesson that children should learn is
veueration for age; and let them learn
this, as they learn the other graces,
from the example instead Of the pre-
,ept of their parents. .-.,-,,,' t''
Children should be taught to speak
we'll of everybody. The child that al
ways has something evil to tell of 9TH
ers will grow up, if left unchecked,
hat most contemplate of all persons
"a backbiter. Usually evil speaking
8 learned at home, and when we hear
|, child confidentially slandering play
nate we may be pretty certain that
his is but a repetition OF something it
las heard from older persons. Let the !
'hild hear you speak nothing but good
# your neighbors, and 80 from sssocia-
ion he will learn to speOk well of all.
{ Finally, speaking for ourselves, we {
10 not believe in severity to children.
The father who governs by fear may :
ontrOl his family while they are young,
'ut q time will come. when timidity !
will depart, and then bis power is ,
one. If, instead of being a stern ru- q
er, he is the confidential friend and i
dviser of his children, his influence
Oes not cease when they are beyond i
is physical government, but extends
Trough life. Experience will show, \
1e think, that kindness, willingness I
D make allowances for youth, judicious n
raise when it is possible to give it, and /
enerally disposition on the part of ii
no parents to give children their time, j,
)ntidence and love, are better far than v
aat cold severity which repels them X
nd makes them eager to escape the
resence and observation of the father
r mother. Spare the rod and spoil
he child though uttered by a wise o
ian, was in our estimation NEST
conclusion. Experience does
Dt prove it to be true, and experienced
the best guide for us.-Inter-O Ocean. "
There was an old family fuel be- d