The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1888-05-16
MIND IN CHILDHOOD.
A MYSTERY WHICH is BEYOND
ORDINARY PHILOSOPHY.

Leading Childish Observation-Disclosures
tiveness to Impressions-A Period of
Great Mental Activity = Father and
Notwithstanding Questions.
The late Bronson Alcott had many UNI
wholesome ideas that made him Extensively
eccentric, but his reverence for children did
a great deal to redeem his character in
shaping the character of his daughter, to
whom he impaired it, Her best worls-and
her best is probably the best of its kinds
the result of reverent study of child charac-
ter. The subject demands reverence, for it
is true saying of the Romans that the
greatest reverence is the due of children.
The mind in childhood is a riddle--a mystery
beyond all our philosophy. We can no more
tell when or where it begins than when or
where it will end. The new born, sentient
being stares with wide open eyes on an un-
known world. It is an utter stranger, in n
strange country, among a multitude of
strange things and strange people. 1t is
scarcely doubtful that it begins to learn;
that its education begins that the mind in it
begins TO develop when the first ray of light
strikes its newly opened eyes. The develop
ment then is rapid Every object around it;
every word spoken; every gesture becomes a
part of It's education. The very tones OF the
voice, high or low, gentle or harsh, make
impressions ON the childish mind that are
never to be effaced.
OF all the childish characteristics the most
impressive is wonder-wonder at everything;
at the trees and flowers, at the clouds, the
sun, the moon and the stars; and at the liv-
ing creatures under them. Children, sup
posed to be too young to reason, will spend
hours in wondering at the enigmas of nature;
in forming theories and attempting to ae-
count for things. They ask innumerable
questions, or rather they will, If they are en-
coulaged by right answers. A light answer
will not satisfy a child, but ii may and it
nearly always does discourage further ques-
tions. Young children cannot understand
fippancy; they have no idea of humor or OF
double meaning Everything is truth for
them until they have learned that lies exist,
and even then they are very slow IN learning
that what seems to be untrue may he all the
truth we have ON any subject. IL any ques-
ton they may ask on subject which is of
the deepest significance to them is treated as
a commonplace and answered lightly or flip
PANTY, they drew back as from a blow
The mind in childhood is sensitive to all
mpressions--peeuliarly sensitive to lack OF
apphef'eioh y, 70 f,uicuie ~ ueLnahus SYM
pa'ny ~ wen us kno"ieuse' lhere Is no
commonplace ior ~ ts world is new,
seroiise anu awe inspiring, iuil OF wonders.
Everything IS sublime TO IT. Inc religious
sense ., avg 'iio "onVer Is Keen ana actiye-
- emu wlii wonaer why tne sun rises, why
the trees pun on 'heir leaves IN spring, why
ehe piius 'uiiu nes.s, why hieho comes aiter
uay' ~ uVes ,,ou discriminate eeOween SUD
gecos Mneie az SEEM .. equhi importance.
ius niihI Is growing as INC niinu Oh tne race
grew ~ iiiehVoi infancy nus many points
vi reseiiglauee 70 0ue ineheal INFANCY OK the
Iace' ~ ~ ueel'iy ,euslous, iuii Oh the ialtn
snao Is .he complement OF wonder Ihis
taitni Vlis ""v aie pate Vi i's reason, and
''uri,is i's Wahing hours les reason Is noes
sul'eiy ne.lVe, ~ = constantly eailea INTO
plaS " 'no ne" iinp iessions y eoaseanlis
tees'ses ny = u ~ ~ ..a
.n'l. elliu - - ii. oileetloh "a are
,'s peiiou u s'eeesV nieh'ai aetiVity
reioss u - . years o,u'
runners sener,aiiy Know almost hotning OF
.ne,i siiiure ~ pees'use OF iac. Oh sympathy
WIN VnV'n ne niiseuiiie iiiihu III pne iuii
s =. nun - nes,iiy iiWays commonplace.
:. ,, Sa'inos lenen eno ,eNei VI one niihu OF
eniiuhoou ~ W "n,o. ene.e are no common
,'oe.e ''i'.ip - nesa'eso W .nav
u ''se ''i't oi VIC i,io.uc. ies eoucaoioh
iis'se uepenus. s,he suceeeus III uhe measure
"a nsA ey,upaeNy "ieu ~, - sne shares its
S wv % sno ii',.ny inys1eries oi one
~, -, ''., Wy a,li,, 10 nineienvy