Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-08-14

and the wee man must succumb sooner
OF later to superior strength; and by
ahd-by, when it is too late to go out to
play, the blocks are tearfully picked up.
and you rock your vanquished ba-
by in your arms. He clings TO you
and kisses you between long sobs, and
finally falls asleep with hot cheek on
your shoulder. But see the dark circles
under his eyes, and listen to the pathetic
catch in his sleeping breath. You have
conquered, but it seems pitiful victory
to You.
Professor Balm says, somewhere in his
little book on "Mind and Body" that
every pleasurable emotion increases vital
ity, and every painful emotion de-
creases it. In proportion to his strength,
what drain upon the child's vitality
this long struggle has been But how
could this scene have been avoided By
not accompanying your command with
threat which at once handicapped you,
and gave the child point Of resistance.
As soon as you said that he could not 90
out until his blocks were picked up, you
lost the opportunity to adjust yourself to
circumstances, and were dependant who'll
ly upon superior endurance, and the in
Fiction Of punishment for your victory.
All consideration for the child's health
must be secondary to the carrying of
your point when it is once made. The
most painful experiences with chill are
often the most unexpected-a whirlwind
on calm day-and unless it is prin-
ciple with the mother to keep herself
mistress of the situation, untrammeled
by definite threats, she will sometimes be
sorcly perplexed.
In this case, if the child refused to
pick up his blocks, you might have warn
ed him Of danger ahead and upon con-
tinued refusal, you might have descend
ed upon him with swift punishment, and
then hurried him out of doors to frolic
with the other children before the last
tear.drop was dry on his cheek. The
whole affair would not have taken ten
minutes, yet he would carry in his small
heart a great respect for an authority
that tolerated no revolt and carried such
quick retribu,ion. When he came in,
rosy and merry, at sundown, he would
be none the worse physically for the epi-
sode of the blocks, but would have learn
ed the cost of disobedience in way not
easy to forget.
With varying ages and temperaments
notifications OF this principle are of
course necessary: but even with the Wig
orous, willful, older child, who disobeys
from sheer naughtiness, is it not better
to avoid contest which may strengthen
his " i'll and obstinacy! If you say to
such child. "You shall not have your
breakfas, until you do so and so," you
rouse his combativeness, and he may 60
without his dinner and supper as well,
rather than yield. We have all heard
startling tales of the voluntary starvation
and imprisonn ent Of obstinate children.
In such cases. il the parent had said
Il told you to do so, and you have diso-
beyed now you must lose your breakfast
or stay in your room all day." the pun
ishment would have been the same, but
shorn of all the glory of successful rebel
lion. The pride of "holding out" would
be lost-he would be simply culprit
doing penance. No palpitating mother
would listen at the door for the first sig
nal of submission. The end would no
longer be sensational, with tears, repent.
ance and forgiveness; the whole thing
would have fallen fat, and be too tame
for repetition.
1t is difficult to1ay down rule with
out its seeming too sweeping. This may
not be adapted to all children, or to any
one child under all circumstances.
know some exceptions myself-so many,
indeed that l think it must be very
good rule 1t seems to me such serious
matter, both physically and morally, for
many children to have prolonged will
contests with parents, that want to
show how mother may, in most
instances make her authority respect
ed without raising such contest
Our Continent.
WHAT WE PAY FOR DRINKS.
An intelligent calcucation about the
consumers cost of the spirits and beer
Al