The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-06-12
Are Parents Responsible ?

From Good Housekeeping.
The responsibility of parents in training
children to make successful men and women is not
realized by many parents as it should be; but not
upon them alone does this accountability devolve
it is shared by all who brought III contact with
these little gatherers of knowledge There cir
cumsanccs sometimes beyond the control of parents
that modify and counteract the teaching of their
children and make mar their successful man
hood or womanhood.
A chds brain may be aptly compared to the SEN
yitive plate of the photographer. 1t needs but a
moments exposure to good or bad influences,
either of department speech, to imprint upon its
surface the lines that make good or bad impress
Non. Weare not parents sufficiently alive to the
fact that this highly sensitive organ is being con-
tinuaily exposed and is continually recording both
the good and bad alike as is SUBJECTED to these in
huenocs; and too like the sensitive plate. it gives
the cleaTest impression of those things to which It
Is exposed tie Longest, and parents are being daily
Bhamed or edited. OF en- the former, by the impress
Eons imprinted these little brains coming to
tight.
Among the circumstances spoken Off an atmos-
phere laden with the sayings dongs and wearngs
of others; need say, matter not calculated either
to enrich or ennolle speaker hearer; the more
frequen L. dealing with the faults and foles of
others, not 10 lie mentioned outside The circle in
which they are committed and then with bated
breath. OF the authors of such Addison says: "a
third kind of fer ale orator may be comprehepded
under the word gossip. Mrs. Fiddle Paddle is per-
fectly accomplished in this sort OF eoquence; she
launches cut into dissertations upon the edgng of
petticoat; runs divisions upon head dress; knows
every dish of meat that is served in her neiehbor-
hood, and ente, tains her company whole after
with the wit Of her little boy before he is able
70 speak"
1t is very hard in mixed household to keep the
watchful eye and ear from seeing and hearing much
that is harmful and especially where there is Mrs.
Fiddle Paddle.
That the continuous hearing of this sort Of "elo-
quence" is Iernicious 10 the young is TO put it
mildly. 1t bears fruit the little one if she be
Agirl-and girls arc more impressed by this kind Of
talk-begins to say Of visitor Mrs NJ. had on a
blue oyerskirt." Mrs. T. had her hair BANGED"
"Florence has the measles" and telling, as they
are remembered, conversations al nauseam fit only
20 be heard by grown people, and they the Fiddle
Paddles The little mind thus continually ex-
posed, the faculty grows these things become
second nature and Il radical measures are not taken
70 counteraet these tendencies in coming years
smother Is added 10 the Fiddle Paddle family.
Another error made by parents, and leading 70
same result IS laughing and tacitly encouraging the
children when such smart % observatiOns-in the
very nature Of the aboye-are made, instead o. Rd-
monishing or passing thsm over Ia silence
Il cannot be too strongly insisted upon. that ns
ths wig Is bent 30 Will tie be inclined and ia