The Cecil Whig., 1881-05-28
ralysis His fortune is estimated at $l3,-
600, 900.
Judgment and Forethought in the Educa-
ton of Children.

In a very thoughtful and suggestive i'll
quiry as to the reasons why promising
children SO seldom turn out as parents
and friends anticipate, the Philadelphia
Public Lager discovers a potent cause of
failure in the man which parents will find
worthy of serious consideration. After
speaking of the more familiar ways of
spelling children by unwise management
OF improper training, the Ledger says:
The truth is, we need more forethought
and less self-indulgence in the training of
our youth. We please ourselves too
much, and study their future too little.
1t is SO easy and pleasant to crafty our
ovid vanity or ambition by stimulating
and exhibiting them in points where they
excel; it is SO hard and comparatively
tame to exercise them in what they are
deficient, and to foster their most meager
abilities. Yet, until educators acquire
the necessary self-control and patience to
do the latter; until they can work quietly
and steadfastly without display, and fix
their aim on future results instead of
present glitter, the most promising chill
dren will continue to sink down into in
ferior men and women.
The qualities that are the most attrac-
tive in childhood are not by any means
the most valuable in maturity. We look
for determination, WILL decision of char
acter, tirmness in the man, and refuse
him our respect if he have them not. But
when the child exhibits these qualities.
even in their incipient stages, we are an
noyed, and perhaps, repulsed. Instead
of rejoicing i'll his strength of will and
guiding it into right channels, we lament
it as IA grievous fault in him and mis-
fortune to us. 1t is the meek and yield
ing child who cares not to decide any
thing for himself, in whom we delight,
and whose feeble will we make still
feebler by denying it all exercise. Yet.
when he grows up and enters the world
and yields to temptation. and, perhaps,
disgraces himself and his family, We look
at him in imbecle wonder that so good a
child should have turned out to be so bad
aman, when, in truth, his course has only
been the natural outcome of his past life
aud training. The power of standing
firm and going alone we know to be de-
srable in the adult, but the child seems
more lovable who is utterly dependent
upon us, and We therefore strive to cher
ish this dependence, shutting our eyes to
the fact that we are thus actually unfit
ting him for the life that awaits him.
Concentration, too, is Il quality that We
admire in the adult, but greatly under
value in the child. We prefer that he
may be easily drawn away from what he
is engaged i'll, and quickly turned from
one thing toanother at our pleasure; and
while we praise him for his ready obedi-
ence, or rebuke him for seeming absorb
ed, we are really breaking down the
power of concentration, and depriving
him of its invaluable results.
1t is true that many things are suita-
BILE for manhood that are not for child
hood, but this is not the case with men,
tai and moral qualities. If it We're there
could be no such thing as consistent pre-
parations for Il good and useful life.
Every quality that the man or woman
needs is incipient in the child, and needs
development and exercise. Our part in
his training is not to cherish in him sim
ply what is most attractive to ourselves,
OF what feeds our own and his vanity,
but rather to study his future needs, and
TO help him to supply what is most lack
ing. 1t is where he is deficient, not
where he excelS that our earnest efforts
are demanded. Not until parents and
teachers realize this so fully as to identi-
fy with it their highest interest and
pleasure in their charges, will promising
children fulfill their promises. and the
question no longer be asked, "What has
become of them?''