The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1886-01-02
The Training OF Children.

Col. HlgglnsOn in Hdrper's B0zdr
advances the modern theory regarding
the training of children, especially with
reference to "breaking the will" He
says:
The modern theory is-and Lconfess
1t seems to me the wiser one-that the
will itself is part of the sacredness of
our nature, and should no more be
broken than the main shaft of a steam
engine. Gou shudder when your boy
cries, Il willl7 III the adjoining room.
In that defiant tone which is q storm
signal to the parents ear The fault is
not however, in the words; spoken in
the right place and right tone, they
represent the highest moral condition of
which man is capable, since resignation
itself is not virture so noble as is a
concentrated and heroic purpose How
superbly does Tennyson state the Dig
nifty Of those words when he paints the
marriage in "The Gardeners Daugh-
teri"
Autumn brought an hour
FOR Eustace, when heard his deep l will
Breathed, like the covenant of a God, to hold
From thence through all the worlds
There is one thing that / dread more
Tor my little maiden than to hear her
say Il will, namely, that she should
lose the power of saying it. A broken,
impaired, wlll-less nature-a life filed
with memorys grave-stones, where
noble aspirations have perished unful-
filled for want of vigor of will to en-
body them in action-this seems to me
more disastrous than even an over
weening self-assertion.
10 is not necessary to say, on the
other hand as some persons hold, that
all moral error is but disease, and never
needs direct contest, but only soothing
medicines. Yet l Lelieve more and
more, as grow older, that large part
OF our contests with children are vast
ed, and that patience and tact would
commonly accomplish the same end,
without the crossing of bavonets.
There Is no doubt that much of what
seems violence or stubbornness in chill
dren is merely phase of physical de-
velopment, and will be outgrown as un-
consciously as boy outgro%s the habit
OF treading his boot-heels sideways I
know several grown persons whose
temper was 4 terror II childhood, and
who have long since passed, by mere
natural development, and without es-
pecial struggle, into a self controlled
and perhaps commonplace maturity.
The wisest and most successful parents
seem to me those who take this into
account; who reduce direct contests to
a minimum, bend tho twig instead of
breaking it; divert the course of the
torrent instead Oh trying to dam it up.
We recognize this with all domestic
animals. While half a dozen men are
collected around a balkv horse in the
street, beating, hauling, swearing, and
all IN vain, n single expert will some
times coH'e .oag and by some very
simple deS,ce perhaps change in the
harness, or q chestnut burr inserted
under the headstall-will so alter the
current Of the creatures dim thoughts
that he will trot away bewildered try
ing to conjecture what has happened.
Thus it is that wise mothers do: lit
Tie bit OF ingenuity, a sudden change Of
theme, will often clear away all clouds
IN minute This is not indulgence;
1t Is common sense and tact. It may
not always answer, but for that very
reason let us use it when we can; avert
the direct collisions when possible in
stead of welcoming them al tke time.
Even the Spartan or Puritsnic mother
like one | know. who herself put her
little girls finger to the red-hot stove
chat she might learn thenceforth to
avoid twill admit that sick child
must be managed through tact and skill
as we'll as through authority; and it is
my experience that much the same 10
Uue OF the healthiest and the strongest.
An eOifo oDh for n Loot,oop. T.;fo -