Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-08-01
THE EVENING STAR.
FREDAY.... August L. 1879.
Suffering and StammerinR.


1t may be useful TO some OF our readers to
publish an extract or two from a paper on this
SUBJECT, recently read before the Albany Insti-
TUE Dy Mr.. Edgar S. Werner, himself a slut
terer-this being the frst ESSAY on stufterinc
ever read before an American society. The
misery or the aniiction is sketched as below:
fora ~, t.o haolt almost always begins be-
ioIe lhe enid reaches his tenth year, usually
In the third or fourth year. Parents are ant 10
treat their Child either with too much severity
ch,l Io ~ , taS ,eniency They command their
or Irritating him, often increase and confirn
1ne lmpediment; or they pay no heed to him,
ner that The will outgrow It, Both OF these
practices are wrong, and almost sure to result
adversely. IL severe treatment be adopted
the child becomes secretive and DEFIANT: his
passions develop at the expense OF his better
faculties, and he comes to look upon Others as
enemies, whom TO defeat is the part OF wisdom
made breach which widens until confidenttal
relations, on the childs side, are broken of.
and his inner life and secret actions are a world
from which the parent Is shut out. By this
means the parent ceases to hold the true rela-
ton, and rules the child only by force. Afec-
ton thus destroyed is seldom fully restored.
II a suffering child be treated too leniently.
be is apt to become what Is known as a spoiled
chlld." He is kept from school too long; and
when in school, is, by the parents request, pet
ted and humored. Very likely he is not called
upon 10 recite, and seldom Is reprimanded If ne
rails TO Learn his lessons He is allowed TO slip
through examinations, and ia often made the
recipient OF an undeserved diploma. At home,
ne is allowed 10 have his own way; his suiky
moods are tolerated on account OF his impede
ment, and his misdeeds, for the same reason,
are allowed to pass unpublished He grows up
In ignorance and Incidence accustomed to rule
In peeyish and despoJic manner. and undis-
c1plineG by the exercise OF self-denial and de-
ference to the wishes and rights OF others.
In their results. both courses are alike repre-
hensible. In either case the child is injured.
requiring years OF subsequent effort TO counter
act the depiorable effects, If, indeed, this is pos
sfbe. In view or these facts, it is OF great I'M
portance that parents treat their children In
proper manner from the moment that diffi-
Guilty Is detected In their speech. When still in
its incipiency, the disorder Is easily remedied
and 1T behooveS parents to duly inform them
selves and take action In time.
The 'proper manner" In which TO treat such
children as develop the tendency In question
is thus described:
In nothing is the adage, IAN ounce of pre-
vention is worth pound OF cure" more appli-
cable than in suffering. Indeed, In this in
stance an ounce OF the one Is more effective
with suffering tendencies should be specially
well nour1Shed; they should take great deal
OF physical and outdoor exercise; care should
DE taken that their lungs are fully developed,
and that their nerves are not irritated. late
hours and highly seasoned food, and every
thing tending TO derange, weaken or unduly
excite, mentally or physically, should be
avoided. The child should not be allowed to
talk too rapidly, or when out OF breath. Ii be
has trouble with word, he should be asked TO
repeat the whole sentence, and not merely the
offending word. Oftentimes serious mistake
is made here. The child is drilled upon his
most dffficult words, and he comes to fear them,
ana, as result, his ability to articulate then
is continually lessened. He should not be per-
mitted TO associate with another suffering
child; indeed. no Child should. Inveterate slut
ter1ng may be caused by mimick1ng Others
Throughout the child should be subjected TO
KIND but firm treatment.