Bozeman avant courier. [volume] (Bozeman, Mont.) 1872-1882, 1879-01-30
Bliss Of Ignorance.

Were ignorance possible in these days OF
the ever-babbliny telegraph and newspa-
per. it might be desirable. perhaps. to Sc
cure such bliss as is proverbially attributed
to it. 1t Is. however. no longer practlca.
BILE to lead the youngest with closed ears
and eyes through world 80 wide-awake
as this. We can not keep them from see
ing and hearing where there is 80 mucl,
light and sound. and if We could We doubt
whether we shonll.
All are agreed that children ought to be
restrained from doing evil. but We do not
think With many that they should also be
kept from knowing it. In fact. such
knowledge is not only inevitable but de-
siraLle, that We may thoroughly under
stand its dangers and fear to incur them.
1t is the common practice OF parent. to
strive. however Incidentally. to keep their
children in total ignorance Of life as 1t
really is. For thi. purpose they will re-
SORT to all kinds Of artiti,-s. and even to
filsehoois and frauds, which they doubt
less deem piO,h. 1t is surprising what tie
ceptiOn IL practiced In most f.ruilie. for
+, tie sake Of dodying the natural curiosity
of the young. The IN ,st religious mother
will unhesitatiagly. in answer to an in
q,liry Of the precocious Investigator Of the
mysteries Of nature. tell her child a lie of
| such v'agnit,iae that the "slS,liStical power
OF the whole college Of ,Jesuits would b.
unable to lift it from the human con-
science.
There is a great deal Of unnecessary re-
serve in regard to imparting the truths of
nature to the young. who not only may be
safely intrus.cl Will, them. bnt who would
he decidedly invigorated. intellectually and
morally. by the knowledge. Whenever
children are sufficiently advanced 10 ask
intelligent questions upon any subject. 1t
may be accepted IA a general law by pa
rents that il is safe to ans ~er them. If
their natural teachers hesitate. from false
delirxcy. to disclose to tine Young what are
called the mysteries Of life and its relations
there are others who will only be too
ready to proclaim them. Hence ensures
An evil upon which many = promising
youth. laden with high hopes. has been
wrecked. by the reserve Of the tastilOnS
parent. who might have told not only the
truth but the whole truth, and while frank |
" disclosing the use OF his animal nature
have warned hia against its abuse. the
child is thrown Up8n the impudent conf |
dence OF the corrupt. who are sure TO ex-
hibit to him the attractions only of SEN
a.0l iOlt,1,parnn FNhn fnn th,,c
withheld from a calm and deliberate rev.
slatien by those they reverence. and ac-
quiring their knowledge in kind Of sur
''t'.s ~; it all the af i'm
terv. have their curiosity unltly interested
and resoive to satisfy it to the utmost.
modern. though quaint writer. and.
4 woman. whose sentiments are
rs delicate as her thoughts are profound.
speaks freely upoa This subject. upon
which. from false deiicGy. there has been
TOO Ion. silence. As for tive questions
Il children which are 30 generally met
with lying answers, she says: LET Them
he answered t.iriy. yravely. and truly
Let the chiii know what his mother suf-
ered in giving him birth; he will love her ,
he better; and when he cOmeth to mans
state that thought Of bitter suffering and [
lansrr to life will make the jest Of the
i'nrtine sound to his ears like the laugh OF p,
he eXecntiOner Nor because here us.. I
he masculine gender would cOnfine this
to that sex only: women no
ess than men must look into the depths ,
II ik ere they will be able to make that !
rec cheice OF the good whereon our eter-
al felicity doth depend: women no less
han men are exposed to the arts of the |
empter. and have no less need that the !
ail,lish hand should be trained to use the t
Weapons of defense :
Physiology. or the science Of the laws r
{ life. IL now acknowledged an essential
lement OF al complete systems of edtlc:s- .
ion but at the same time. strange to say, t
he teacher. Ia his Elstidiousness. ignores t
he most important part-that which treats s
the very fountain OF life. We protest 8
gainst this talse delicacy. and urge upon
sreats and all guardians Of youth not to
astrict their teachings within the narrow
,nits Of conventional reserve. but open
'eely to their children the book Of knowl- >,
lye in all its fullness. by which they will :.
e more secure of happiness than by trust =.
'g to- the uncertain bliss of ignorance =
[arpe,s Bazaar. :.