Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1879-08-09
GEN. Lee ON Eaneatien.

OF child, rom infancy 10 man
hood. Any system is imperfect
which does not combine them all,
and that is best which, while it
thoroughly develops them, aliases
the coarse, animal affections Of hu-
man nature, and exalts the higher
faculties and feelings. A child has
everything to learn, and Is more
readily taught by having before ii
good examples to initiate than by
simple precepts. He should, there
fore, as far as circumstances will
permit, be encouraged to associate
with his parents; for his heat must
be affected, his feelings moved, as
well as his mind expanded. He
may be taught that 1t Is criminal to
steal and sinful to lie, and yet be
unable to apply this knowledge to
the government of himself and IL
will therefore be of no value to him
unless the priaciple is confirmed
into a habit.
Obedience Is the first requisite in
family training. 1t should be made
sincere and perfect, and to proceed
as much from affection as cOnvic-
ton of its necessity. To accomplish
this, great prudence and the eXer-
else of much patience are necessary.
By firmness mixed with Kindness
the child will learn by repeated ex-
perience that he is not to follow his
first impulse, and that self-control,
which even an infant can under
stand, is necessary to his comfort.
Neither violence nor harshneSs
should ever be used and the parent
must bear constantly in mind that
to govern his child he must show
him that he can control himself.
One of the most common errors in
the management Of children Is
irregularity of behavior toward
them. They are as skillful as perth
naciOus in their attempts to gratify
their self-will at one time trying
to evade authority, at another to
oppose it. If they once succeed,
they are encouraged TO persevert,
and it is necessary for the parent to
meet the first attempt with firm
ness, and not permit himself to be
Daffied, either by evasion or resist
ance. Although a child may not
yield to threats, and may defy pun
ishment, he cannot resist patient
kindness and gentle admonition.
The love of truth Is equal In inn
portance to habitual obedience.
Every encouragement, even to the
pardoning of Offenses, should be
given to its cultivation. The first
impulse I'm the mind of children Is
always to speak the truth rather
than falsehood, unless some evil
motive arise to sway them to un-
truth. They should be accustomed
to hear the truth always spoken.
Confession of error with detstatiOn
of falsehood, dishonesty and equiv
ocation, should be sedulOusly in-
culcated. A strict adherence TO
promises made to them is of the
utmost importance, as well as the
removal Of all temptation to mis-
conduct.
The influences of Christianity
form the essential element of moral
character, as its principles are the
only sufficient basis Of virtue or
happiness. Hence, the parents
most sacred duty TO his child Is TO
impress the sentiments of our holy
religion early upon his mind by
personal explanation and systematic
instruction. AS the intellect ex-
pands, its sacred truths will be
and felt, and its mo-
tives and principles be strengthened
and confirmed by practice and
habit.
An essential part of the education
of youth Is to teach them to serve
and to impress upon
them the fact that nothing good can
be acquired in this world without
labor; and that the very necessaries
and comforts of life must be procured
by earnest and regular eXertion.
They should also be taught to know
that, after having been reared and
educated by their parents, they
should not expect them to provide
further for them, and that their
future subsistence and advancement
must depend upon themselves. Pa
rents sometimes make the mistake
of allowing their children, after
having reached the period of life
when they should be engaged In
livelihood, to rely upon
them for support. This encOur-
ages them in Injurious idleness, and
destroys their spirit Of self-depend-
ence, which Is necessary for their
in life, and causes
them to appear so unreasonable as
to depend upon them after having
at an age when they should
choose and act for themselves.
The choice of profession Is not Of
30 much consequence as the manner
in which it is pursued. If habits of
and self-denial have
been acquired during the season OF
the great object has been
Diligence and in
tegrity in any useful pursuit Of life
VIII be sure to secure prosperity and
lame, and success will result from
engaging in that business in which
the generality of mankind are i'm
terested.
Such being the correct view OF
the support and cO-ope-
ration which faithful teachers should
receive from parents can be easily
inferred by the good sense of each
)ne. We only ask especial atten-
ion, in concluding, to the following
which our experience
has shown to be of prime import
lnce:
First-The parent, after commit
ing his child to the teaching OF
mother, should continue TO manifest
IN affeetiQnate interest i'm his inn
Drovement by constant inquiry and
sncoul agement.
second-The supplying Of young
while absent from their
homes, with needless money, and
he permission To contract debts,
ire to be repfObated, as tempting to
sinful prodigality and multiplying
he dangers Of contracting habits OF
yice.
Third-The proper authority of
eachers must be firmly sustained
~ parents.
Fourth-Every young person
hould be informed by his parents
hat he must give diligence 10 profit
~ his studies, or else must be COM
)elled to make himself useful to
ociety by actual labor in some
lumbler sphere.
And last, an unworthy parent
'annOt reasonably expect the teach
,r, against the current OF his wrong
to form his sen into a
worthy man.