Southern standard. (McMinnville, Tenn.) 1879-current, 1884-03-01
Our Children Once More.
Western Rural.

There is sill another matter. in con-
neclion with the training Of children
that is So important that we do not feel
like di>missing subject upon which
We have already written two articles,
without calling attention to It, I'm.
fortunately it is too frequently the case
that when the parent has discharged
in II most faithful manner all the duties
which we have described in our former
articles, the child goes wrong and is
ruined. The cause OF this deplorable
result is the neg lect Of the parent to
guard the child against perniciOus i'll.
fluences, among which, and perhaps
we might say mist prominent, is flash
or otherwise pernicious reading. The
MUD of the child is entertained by
blood and thunder stories, the descrip>
ton of impprlnence, irreverence and
daring on the part of boys, and it will
eagerly devour such literature if it can
get it. The youths papers that have
the largest circulation in this country
be it said to the shame of I,arents-are
of this character. Books of this char.
actel make their authors rich. There
are several bucks with the title of Bad
Buy Or something similar, and their
teachings and influences are clearly
destructive ut character and usefulness
Yet one of them it is said is netting its
author twenty-five thousand dollars
per year. Of course all of this income
does not come from youth, but very
large p,rlon of it does; and what a
comment it is upon the training OF
children. Such books do not contain
one ennobling sentiment. Their entire
contents are calculated to destroy the
spirit of obedience, to present life III
the light of absurdity, and to stimulate
altogether the wrong side of the childs
nature and character. All that can be
offered in their favor is that they are
amusing. But we are under no ne
cessity of painting the most sacred re-
lations and subjects of life rediculously
to make the child laugh. There are
enough sources Of innocent mirth and
amusement, without attacking the dig
nifty of the father, the love of the
mother or the sweetness Of home
Every laugh that Is raised at the ex'
pense of any of these, ls destructive o.
their influence upon the children ant
lower their regard for these sacred
things; and whenever child can b
drought to disregard, in any degree
the sanctity of hume and parental con
troll, he has been started straight upor
the road that leads to misery, the pen
itentiaty and the scaflold. He ma!
not go far enough to reach these
thanks however he does not, to al
almost miraculous interposition of SOM
character-but he is headed for them
There is no influence in this world tina
is SO potent as that of the home. !
will follow the child and the man al
through life, unless it is thwarted b.
some such devilish interposition as thes
bad boy stories. How necessary, there
fore, is parental watchiulness over tn
reading Of the family, and that watch
fulness is complete Onl Y when tn
father and mother have an absolut
knowledge Of the character of the lit
erature which they provide for thei
children. In no other way can tn
great danger be guarded against, Will
men who profess responsibility am
claim the merit of beng good citizens
are so absolutely lost to a sense ofshsm
and decency, as to be willing to col
rupt our youth with pernicious literf
ture. The man who will sell liquc
over his bar to a child is monster {
Satanic character, and deserves the 81
yerest punishment; hut he is a gentle
manand philanthropist compared to tn
despicable creature who steals into Oh
home with his printed poison, aud SAP
the foundation Of the child's character
There is not enough money in III
world to pay for being so exquISitel
depraved, and the man who will do
ought to be ostracised and kicked clea
across the continent. Yet we cam,
as parents escape our own responsible