Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1885-07-02
PRESENCE OF MIND.
Teaching the Children the Art and
Use rSelf-controI.
Toronto Globe

| Toronto Globe.
Presence of mind is a quality much
talked of, much honored and-little
cultivated; yet, like most other good
things in this world, it requires culti-
walton, for in very few cases is it a
natural git Some people there are,
doubtless, to whom it comes natural
ly and by instinct to do the right
thing at the right time and place; but
they are few in number, Then again.
some people are by nature, cooler
headed than their neighbors, and do
rot scream and otherwise become use
less just when their services are re-
quired. But this quiet conaposure,
though very valuable, is not the same
as presence of mind. The latter con-
! sists not only in having your wits
ready for use, but in knowing how
to use them, and being sufficiently
calm and steady in mind to remember
and turn to account that knowledge,
From the earliest possible age children
should be taught self control, and the
instinct of trying to remedy any mis-
take or accident they may encounter.
Teach your child, if he cuts himself
anywhere, at once to hold the two
sides OF the cut tightly together, to
he likes; instead OF, as as children Usual s [
ly do, dancing about, howIing and
shaking the wounded part violently.
thus making it bleed and smart doubly.
Show him that if he burns or scorches
himself he can save himself much
pain by covering the place with wet
soap, or cold cream, or fuller's earth,
or violet powder, all or any of which
are pretty sure to be within reach in
the nursery.
But if the boys require to be taught
self-control, douDly SO do girls. Hav-
ing, by nature. weaker nerves and a
more vivid imagination, they shrink
fram pain, suffering and dang er in a
fashion utterly unintelligible to
their brothers. But the moro natur-
al this shrinking is, Il more
carefully should they ! taught
to govern it. Girls should ac-
qulre at least the rudiments of nurs-
ing and learn the best and easiest at
tainable remedies for the ordinary
accidents Of daily life, just as certain
ly and as matter of course as thew
are taught to sew and to read. Es.
pecially should quiet. and GOODNESS be
impressed on them. Calmress is not
insenslbility, though many people
confound them. 4 girl is not hard
hearted and unfeeling because she
can witness painful sights, and, if
need be, lead a steady, firm hand to
the doctor or nurse. On the contrary,
she has usually twenty times the
sympathy and unselfish kindness of
that delicate little damsel who has not
command whatever over herself, and
fills the room with shrieks, winding
up by running away the very moment
an extra hand might be useful. It
may seem harsh to say so, perhaps,
but those dainty bodies, who are so
utterl y useless at any emergency, or,
as their friends plead, $50 highly en-
dowed with sensibility" Chose who
are not their friends make unpleasant
reference to folly" and ''hysterics'O,
are generally selfish and self-absorbed
to a degree utterly unintelligible to
their more sober sisters, who are
taught to forget self, and control both
mind and body by their large-hearted
sympathy with, and comprehension
of, suffering. But the sick room is
not the only place where presence of
mind is required. Scarcely a day
passes when we do not more or less
require it. Thank goodness the notion
that women should faint or 90 into
Mysteries for the smallest thing is
pretty well exploded; still, even vet
the opposite lesson might be more
incuicated.