Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1889-02-21
- HOME GOVERNMENT. :

NAL London Standard.
~ e41a
'- HOME GOVERNMENT. -a
Some Regrettable Features of the Present
| Lax System.
A few years ago Frank r. Stockton
wrote an essay on The Training OF
Parents" which, although semi-satiri-
cal. had in it substratum of whole
some truth. Briefly stated, his argu-
ment was that a great change had
taken place in the constitution of the
family, especially in the United States;
that the child had usurped the former
prerogative of the parent, and, there
fore, that it was time for US to recog-
nize the altered condition and to give
to the children of the present day as
sistauce and counsel in the iudicious
training of their parents.
Among the rules suggested for the
government of parents the primary
proposition was that filial control
should begin in the first years of
parental life, when the minds of the
parents would be in a plant and mold
able condition. If it should become
necessary to punish parent the child
must not forget the Importance OF
tempering severity with mercy; that
once having taken the reins of govern
ment in hand it must never resign
them, but constantly keep a guiding
and controlling power over both the
father and the mother. In fact. all the
old-fashioned rules that were supposed
to be applicable to the training of chill
dren were used as illustrations, the
sum of advice to children being: Train.
up parent in the way he should go,
and when you are old you will know
how to go that way yourself.
Allowing for the humorous exag-
geration of Mr.. Stockton, it can not be
denied that the Difference paid to-day
by many parents to the wishes and
opinions of their children has often
serious effect upon their mental and
moral growth, and is directly respon-
sible not only for parental disappoint-
ment but also for heavy sorrow. The
Puritan sternness at one time in vogue,
the loveless and repellant character of
the creed, the constant iteration of
duty and the curbing of every inno-
cent and joyous emotion, simply in
cited longing to break such irksome
bonds; and when the opportunity to do
so offered itself the other extreme was
reached, and license took the place of
repression. And yet it may be ques-
toned if this '.keep-off-the-grass"
method of training was more hurtful
than that which either looks upon a
child as a delicate exotic, too refined
and tender to be brought into contact
with the less favored mortals. or else
abandons all efforts at control, cOnsOl-
ing itself with the well-worn reflection
that the child can take care of itself.
OF these two methods the latter
seems to be the most popular. The
feeling of independence and self
assertiveness that is characteristic of
the average American mind is too much
relied upon. 1t is presumed that the
let-alone policy will stimulate this
spirit; whereas, on the contrary, the
natural result is to bring into existence
a feeling of disregard for the rights of
others and an obtrusiveness and
hardness which speedily degenerate
into the worst type of selfishness. In
the streets, in stores and hotels, on
street and railroad cars and steam
boats, there can be daily seen the out
come of such pernicious training, the
most regrettable feature of the matter
being that the parents seem completely
Indifferent, or else lend a tacit approval
to that which thoughtful people look
upon with alarm. Pertness is consid-
cred to be precocity. rudeness is simply
youthful exuberance, while selishness
is held to be nothing but an indication
of progressive business spirit which
will hold its own and not allow itself
to be cheated out of its just due
Never has the cultivation of the
graces of obedience, respect, rever-
ence, manliness and womanliness been
more profoundly needed than now.
These graces lie at the root of all good
social intercourse. Like mercy, they
are twice blessed; wherever they radi-
ate they illumine and beautify. Let
us try to cultivate such virtues in our
hildren.-Philadelp Record.