Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1878-05-31
Rights OF Children.

The iirit right Of every child is to be
well bonn; and by this mean
that it ha, rightto the best conditions,
physical, mental and moral, that is in
the power Of the parents to secure.
Without this the child is defauded of his
rights ut the outset, and his life can hard
ly fail of being II pitiful protest against
broken laws. Centuries of preparation
fitted the earth for mans occupancy,
limiting TINS the grandeur Of his destiny,
and suggesting that in an event Of such
magnitude rs the incarnating Of soul,
provision should be exercised and all
the best conditions secured, in aid of a
harmonious and happy result. Good
health, good habits, sound mentality
and reyersnt love should form the basis
Of every new life that is invoked The
mother who gives herself up to morbid
fancies, WHO considers her health nm ex-
cuse for petulance and non-exercise of
self-contro, proves herself unworthy Of
the holy Office ofmother, and ought not
be surprised If she reap ut Il latter day
the bitter harvest of her unWise SOW
ing:
means of securing the happiness and
best good o. childhood and youth, is the
right to be aught obedience. 1t is easy
to submit to what we know is inevitable.
and to the title child the requirement
of the parents should be law without ap-
peal. The tender, immature being,
shut in by 'he unknown, where every
relation is 4 mystery and every advance
an experiment, has right to find itself
everywhere sustained and directed by
the parent. 1t should not be tempted
to resistance by laws that are imperfect
ly enforced, nor subjected to the injuri-
Gus friction of discussion by having u
long list Of reasons given for require
ment. The habit Of obedience to the
parents may be formed before the child
is two years old, and this is n necessary
precedent OF obedience to law, the next
stage of II true developement.
The child has right to employment
and the free use Of its faculties What
shall dor is the paintye wall of many
II little one imprisoned i'll rooms where
everything is toonice to be played with,
and among grown-up people who can
not endure npise Sit down and keep
quiet" is too often the impatient ans
wer--answer which | never hear with
out IN indignant mental protest. | ad-
monlsh you, father, mother, guardian,
into whose lands God has committed
the sacred trnst Of n child's life, be care
full how you hetrny it, Beware how
YOU hinder IL souls development by il
selfish seeking Of your own convent
encel
Absolute reliance on the love of the
parents, faith in tins wisdom that for
bids doubt, are the indispensable condi-
tion ofa healthy and happy development
They constitute fertile soil and genial
atmosphere in which all beautiful hu-
man affections bud and blossom. Faith
er does what is right, Mother knows
better than l, are the instructive utter
ance Of child whose life and education
have been rightly begun. That these
uttcrances are not often heard is Il Sc
we're commentary upon our methods,
sad indication how much the rights of
children have been neglected.
The child has Il right to ask questions
ana 70 pe lalIt. answered, not 70 De
snuhbed rs if he we're guilty Of All i'm
pertlnence, nor ignored rs though Ills
desire for information were of no conse-
quenee, nor misiled us if did not signi-
fy whether TRUE or false impressions
were made upon his mind. He has
il right to be taught everything which lie
desires to learn. and to be made certain.
when any asked-for information is with
held that il is only deferred till he is
older and better prepared to receive it.
Answering ehild's questions is sowing
the seeds Of its future character. The
slight impression IF to-day may become
i rule oi life twenty Years hence. A
youth in cossing the telds dropped cher