The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-05-19
The Dawn Of Life.

hUe Ot
THE MENTAL DEVELOPMENT OF CHILDREN
ThE BEGINNING OF INTELLIGENCE-HOw
MOTHERS MAY COOPERATE WITH THE sPE-
C1ALfSTS.
At the meeting Of the American Social
Science Association az SARATOGA last sum-
mer, in a paper on KindergartenS." It was
suggested that too hIile was known regard
ing the mental growth of children. Much
time has been spent by men in studying the
habits of plants and animals. and in di,-
cussing the intelligence Of animals; hut no
one has thought II matter OF cons, quence
to watch in infants the first dawn of
intelligence, and follow from that the
child, tracing il step by step until,
every faculty alive and active, it becomes a
thinking and reasoning being. Certainly
here is an interesting psychological field for
explorers. and 1t is as yet untrodden. All
this found echo in the hearts OF those inter-
ested in children and in educational mat
ters, and il was seriously considered as a
work quite within the province OF the Com.
mIttee on Edncation. 1t seemed a hopeless
task TO undertake, and no one appeared TO
have any definite idea how II was 10 be en-
tered upon, and tae committee separated
without any plan OF action. II did not rest
there, however, for Mrs. Emily Talbot, OF
this city. who IS the secretary, and an ac.
tive member of the committee, set her.
self at once 10 work 10 lind the way
to make the beginning. 1t seemed ne
ceSsary first TO gain certain facts re-
gardlng children which should furnish
the necessary data TO work from /;
these facts once collected could be put into
the hands Of the specialists. and they could
consider and make their deductions from
| them. OF course these could only be fur
nlshed by the mother or nurse and the first
thing obviously seemed to be TO interest the
mothers and make them notice and register
certain acts OF the child which indicate, first,
consciousness. and then thought. Mrs.
! Talbot consulted with Professor Preyer,
Professor Harris. and Professor Hall, all Of
them scientific men, and men interested in
all development OF the race. They approved
the plan, and thought she was going to work
/ in the most practical manner possible TO
achieve The results, and gave her many val.
liable hints and suggestions regarding the
circular which she had in preparation for
mothers, and Of which fen thousand have
already been distributed. The circular.
after setting forth its object, presents Hst
OF questions with blank spaces for the re-
plies. These blanks are TO be filled out and
returned to Mrs. Talbot, the contents noted
and compared. and table OF averages
made, which will be the first thing The spe.
ciallsis will have to begin their work from.
Among the questions asked are the parent
| age OF the baby's father and mother, the
| nationality: the babv'S weight at birth and
! at stated periods during the first year Of It's
| life; iIs physical condition; the age at
which it first exhibited consciousness, and
| in what manner; at what age did it smile,
recognize its mother, notice its hand, follow
light with Its eyes, bold up its head, sit
alone on the floor, creep, stand by chair,
stand alone, walk alone; hold a playtbng
when put into its hand; reach ont and take
plaything; appear 10 be right or left
| handed; notice pain, as the prick Of pin
show a like or dislike in taste; appear sensi-
| bic TO sound: notice the light OF a window
or turn towards it, fear the heat from stove
or CRATE: speak, and what did 1t say; how
many words could it say at one year, at
eighteen months, and at two years.
| The thing now most necessary to be
done is to get the cooperation OF the
mothers: and this, although It may not be
done az once. will not tie difficult when II is
understood how vital matter II is, aud how
\ little care on their part will be the means
of opening new re5lm Of psychology,
which shall not only be Of the greatest in
terest but also Of untold value. There is no
mother that does not take delight in watch.
! ing the awakening faculties Of her child. and
| every new act of intelligence is a new baDpi-
ness to ber. She watches for the hrst CLEAN
OF recognition IN the baby's ewes; the first
| flicker OF a smile about the rosy baby mouth ;
and the first appeal from the uphfted hands
l.,.fI II L..
plness that il not equalled until the baby
| lips for the first time calls "Mamma." So
| the task Mrs. Talbot sels is not a hard one,
merely to record these events which afford
l.sucb happiness to her as they occur, and
send them as requested. The labor comes
afterward i'm the classification and compari-
son. Certainly the experiment is worth
irving. and no one can predict what results
NAV follow. Ii is no doubt true that re-
scarch of this kind Will bring TO light some
very remarkable facts. and there Is no reason
yby i'm tims il may not result in very useful
knowledge which shall be OF the utmost SER
vice NOT Only 10 mothers IN training and di-
rect,no The mental faculties OF their chil-
dren I'm, TO all interested in their education
and advancement. III any persons are IN
,erested 10 see for themselves what the wol x
&c tbst the educational department OF the
Social Science Association Is attempting,
thew nay learnt5y seDding for circular TO
Mrs. Emily Talbot, No. rs Marioerongn
street. Mothers who are interested would
DO we'll to investigate the snbiect, and give
what ale they can In the beginning, as tbe
esmmittee desire 20 get as many facts as
no.sibIe Before the next meeting OF the AS
soeiation, and the Eaore responses they have
to the circular The sooner will they be ready
70 mt The work from their hands into the
,raitInr hanlls OF the speclalists.