Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1880-03-13
PRESENCE OF MIND.

en- and Children---What to Do in Certain
Emergencies.
Few attain to mature years without
recognizing the value of that presence
of mind which can be depended on for
immediate service in the hour Of need.
Yet, while all acknowledge its import
ance, how few are taught from child
hood to cultivate and practice it. A
large proportion of the accidents which
astonish us by their frequency and
appal us BY their frightful results might
have been averted if the sufferers or the
lookers-on had learned in youth to
exercise this habit. Some, to be sure,
are so constitutionally sensitive, or
through intirm health so nervous, that
it may be difficult, but seldom impossi-
bic, to bring this important acquisition
into their daily lives so perfectly as to
serve them in times of necessity or
danger.
1t is comparatively easy to guide the
Young who are well into such self
government as will give them the
presence of mind needed by every
human being. 1t is hard task to build
up the weak-minded and nervous; but
in all cases parents-especially mothers
are under sacred obligations TO labor
patiently, andcontinually, so to lead their
children that sudden disasters or COM
ing danger will not shake them or pre-
vent the prompt, energetic action that
comes through the established habit of
calm self-gOvernment. Parents must
first learn this lesson thoroughly them
selves, so that their teachings will be
Endorsed by their daily example. And
the instructions should be pre- -eminently
gentle and loving, appealing first to the
-children's confidence in their mothers
truthfulness and superior judgment, and
then to the child's good common sense,
a quality of which even very young chill
.dren have far more than some mothers
suppose.
Ii child fails in self-control when
alarmed, or in case of accident, never
reprove it, or speak sharply. That will
only increase the nervousness. But
whatever may be the mothers own
alarm she must endeavor to speak quiet
", calmly and very gently. In an
emergency, if the mother becomes ex-
cited and screams, probably the chill
dren will instantly follow her example,
rush about wildly and aimlessly, and,
all through want of presence of mind in
the mother, become so demoralized that
any sensible action for precaution or re-
lief will be well-nigh impossible.
Suppose horse takes fright with a
lady and perhaps young children in the
carriage. The animal has become I'M
manageable, past the lady's control. If
the mother also loses all self-cOntrol the
children will far outscream her. and the
horse, maddened by the noise, increases
his speed and bears his shrieking burden
TO dire disaster, if not to almost certain
destruction. Through want of physical
strength the lady may find it impossible
to control the horse. But what excuse
can be offered when strong, able-bodied
men, who see such precious load in
danger, do not come promptly to the
rescue, but run at safe distance behind
the fast receding carriage, goading the
horse to fiercer efforts by their shouts of
"Stop that horse! Stop that hOrse!"
instead of quickly but silently putting
themselves beside the horse (never rash
ly and uselessly running in 'front.' where
they might possibly grasp the rein, or
bride, sOothe the horse with gentle
words, and avert a fearful accident by
exercising that presence of mind which
goes hand in hand with true cOuragee
ANY one ahead of the runaway can
easily, by walking slowly toward the
carriage. without shouting or brandish-
ing cane, be almost instantly so near
the horse as to catch the bride, or reins,
before he can dash by, while others be-
hind may safely come up to aid in re-
straining him.
But this invaluable quality of mind is
absolutely necessary in cases of fire.
There are some rules that should be
tnnnht every child from earliest child