Wilmington daily commercial., 1875-02-11
CHILDREN,S BALLS.

We are moved as Friends say, to enter our
protest against a peculiar kind of dissipation
which threatens, if encouraged, to carry demora-
lzation into many homes The reference is to
extravaganza in chidrens parties, which advces
from all quarters assure us are more numerous
and brilliant this winter than ever before. 1t is
t, be hoped the contagion has not set markedly
toward this city and word thereon may be so
much the more in season. But reports from
New York, Philadelphia. aud Baltimore, are suf-
ficiently startling, and there is such Free
Masonry in fashion that it is possible Wilmington
people may be caught in the giddy whirl against
what is really their proper inde ement.
From our view there should be no need %
warn paren s against any matter serving to in
crease the emotions of vanity and love of admira
tion in their children, for the reason that the
advisability Of simplicity and innocence at that
period Of life of all others is self evident. Yet
there is apowerful deal of thoughtlessness in tho
world, INDUCED in, too, by the most
intelligent people. Parents who on general
principles would readily admit the necessity OF
keeping their children modest, ret rrg and sim
ple-minded who would repel with indignation
any asser, on that their young families were riv-
cuiuo VI lhuuiSAct, VI N''l-
truthfulness, or love OF display, yet through ill.,
attention, and from a vague notion that these
matters always somehow take care of themselves
often allow young people to drift into the very
dangers from which it should be the constant
care of their elders to guard them. No principle
of home-hfe is probably better established than
the fact that yer-iudulgence is the great bane
of the family it might not even be far from the
truth to declare that such indulgence has wrought
more ruin tbsn neglect or cruelty. 1t is hard to
deny those who look to you for everything. and
whose demands may often seem innocent il
themselves, but the parent who hss proper
sense of h's or her responsibility must exercise
this CONTROL must think for those not yet sufli-
cienty matured to think for themselves, unless
it is desired to the home broken, and hear its
sweet harmony turned to janglng discord
Those things being held j., view, a u Ter cnn-
Germ could scarcely be felt than that relative to
Juvenile balls and parties of ali ultra and fashion
able sort. OF eoul Sc there is no alluson to the
homeike gatherings which delight young and old,
for these could be badly dispensed w.th and new
er will be. But the chidrens ball, most readers
will agree is another matter. or all the devices
of fashion none is better calculated than this to
make children old before their time to make
them vain and bold and forward and un-
pleasant generally; more than ths, to render
them insincere, immodcst and untiuthful. To
see children flirting and plumipg themselves for
admiration 1 notilt a'l an amusing but a painful
sight to thinking person, aud the vision of the
false notiors of the world which such indulgence
must inevitably cause IN au Uniformed n nd.
and of the extravaganza and recklessness there
by engendered to work woo through all the fu-
ture years, must bo viewed with something veiy
like dismay. Tho juvenile ball is an unmixod
ryil, Rs many thoughtless parent has unhappi-
" realiZed