Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1879-08-08

II may be useful to some of our readers to
publish an extract or two from paper on this
subject, recently read before the Albany On.
Y Institute by Edgar s. Werner, himself q
stutterer-this being the first essay on slut
tering ever read before an American society.
The misery of the affection is skotchcd as be-
low:
The disease-habit almost always begins be-
fore the child reaches his tenth year, usually
in the third or fourth year. Parents are apt
to treat their child either with too much Sc
verify or too much leniency. They command
their child to talk properly, and thus, by
frightening or irritating him, often increase
and confirm the impeachment; or they pay no
heed to him, eXcusing and comforting them
selves by the belief that 'he will outgrow it. -"
Both of these practices are wrong and almost
sure to result adversely. If n severe treat
ment be adopted, the child becomes secretive
and defiant his passions develop at the ex-
pense of his better faculties, and he comes to
look upon others as enemies, whom to defeat
is the part of wisdom and necessity. Between
parent and child is made breach which
widens until confidential relations, on the
childs side, are broken off and his inner life
and secret actions are world from which the
parent is shut out BY this means the parent
ceases to hold the true relation and rules the
child only by force Affection thus destroyed
is seldom fully restored,
If Il suffering child be treated too leniently,
he is apt to become what is known as "spoil-
ed child He is kept from school too long
and, when in school, is by the parents re-
quest, petted and humored. Very likely he
is not called upon to recite, and seldom is
reprimanded if he fails to learn his lessons
He is allowed to slip through examinations,
and is often made the recipient of an unde-
served diploma. At home, he is allowed to
have his own way his sulky moods are tole-
rated on account of his impeachment, and his
misdeeds, for the same reason, are allowed to
pass unpublished. He grows up in ignorance
and Incidence. accustomed to rule in a peevish
and despotic manner, and undisciplined by
the exercise of self-denial and Difference to
the wishes and rights of others.
In their results, both courses are alike rep
rehensible. In either case the child is injured,
requiring years Of subsequent effort to coun-
teract the deplorable effects, if. indeed, this
is possible. In view of these facts it is of
great importance that parents treat their chill
dren in n proper manner from the moment
that n difficulty is detected in their speech.
When still III its incipiency, the disorder is
easily remodied, and 1t behooves parents ia
duly inform themselves 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, AN ounce of pre-
yention is worth pound of cure more APP
phcable than in suffering. Indeed. in this
instance, an ounce of the one is more effect
i've than a hundred weight of the other.
Children with suffering tendencies should be
specially well nourished; they should take a
great deal of physical and outdoor exercise
care should be taken that their lungs ART fully
developed, and that their nerves are not irri-
tated. Late hours and highly -seasoned food,
and everything tending to derange, weaken OF
unduly excite mentally or physically, should
be avoided. The child should not be allowed
to talk too rapidly, or when out of breath.
If he has trouble with word. he should be
asked to repeat the whole sentence, and not
merely the offending word. Oftcntimes d
serious mistake il made here. The child IL
drilled upon his most difficult words, and lac
| comes to fear them, and, as a result. his abil-
| ity to articulate them is continually lessened
| He should not be permitted to associate with
another suffering child; indeed, no child
should. Inveterate suffering may be caused
by mimicking others. Throughout the child
should be subjected to kind but firm treat.
| ment