The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1875-02-25
Training Our Children.


Rev. DR.. Bellows, of New York, in a
recent lecture on Household Train
ipg," presented this picture of Ameri-
can life: 'The truth is, that we are
naturally becoming very impatient of
details of every kind. We want to do
up business, religion and education in
lump. Such is the growing tendency
of the times, that are bringing in the
dangers of despotism. Generous senti-
ments are substituted for careful habits
Of discipline, which are abandoned in
favor of certain fine and general resolu-
tions. II is the peril of our business
that men substitute show, and pay enor-
nous rents, and expect to make rapid
fortunes, and intrust its management to
strangers, instead of having personal
supervision over it, and moderate ex-
pectations and patient industry and
lifelong labor. 1t is Ihe peril of our
domestic life, and the cause of domestic
happiness being sacrificed, that people
are so ambitious for splendid suites of
rooms and showy carpets, splendid mir
rors and costly furniture. And it is the
peril of our education that it is In
trusted to costly teachers to perform
the duties which none but devoted
parents can SO properly perform. 1t is
obvious that in this state of things,
while parental and domestic teachings
is imperativeiy necessary it is also
peculiarly difficult. SO deeply are
many parents impressed with the diff
ficulty of teaching their children sat
isfactorily under the moral and politi-
cal influences by which they are sur
rounded, that all sacrifices they fee,
like Joseph, into the interior Of the
county, where there is some hope Of
seclusion, or they go away to Europe.
It is wise to run away from dangers OF
the kind referred to. But young people
should be brought up where they are to
live. We cannot avoid our national
circumstances or our social and dOmes-
tic atmosphere. We must recognize it.
Do parents expect to set bad examples,
to hurry and worry through their bus
mess and exhibit a want of temper to
their children, to bring anxious and
gloomy feelings home, and hope to have
their sons and daughters love their
society Do they think to indulge in
wholesale denunciations of their neigh
bors, to talk at home of political ex-
citements and Of murders, Of great in
surrections, of theatrical performances,
and have their younR children sitting
round their table, and expect that they
will cultivate a taste for history, for
painting or sculpture, or other elevating
influences? {? It cannot be SO. II cur
natural circumstances have brought
our men and women up impatient Of
details, superficial in their knowledge,
fond of excitement, and Incorporate Of
speech, if husbands and wives are not
what they ought to be at home, let
them net wonder 80 what they see in
their children. To train them up prop
erly first requires that we should train
ourselves. When We do this we may
hope to possess wisdom and power to
train our children to good and in ways
Of virtue, peace, and piety."
GnADsroSE's retirement from public
life viii be sweetened, it is said, by the
admiration Of Queen Victoria, who b. $
offered a peerage in her own right to his
wife, and will confer q bsronetcy upon
the young Gladstone. This is London
gossip.