Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-10-29
Explanations.

Children's questions are frequently
posers to their elders. This is not always
because the elder is ignorant of the mat
ter inquired about; although it must be
confessed that we would have to be pretty
well posted on every subject on earth to
answer all the questions Of some young
people. But is often difficult to give an
explanation which children will under
stand any better than the thing they ask
an explanation of.
This is most true in regard to defining
words. For instance, if it is suddenly de-
manded of us by child of ten: "What
does impression mean?" "What does
Influence mean?" "What does 'appreci-
ate mean?" the difficulty of putting a
proper idea of the thought into the child s
mind will be seen at once. His expert
ence is so limited that many of the words
we use have to him no meaning whatever
There are other words which we common
ly use in u sense altogether different from
that in which a child uses them; some
times in different sense from the origin
al meaning of the word. Bright children
will see this, and sometimes turn the
tables suddenly, by taking the word used
IN meaning entirely opposite to our in
tention.
To illustrate this: child of six, while
being read to, insisted op turning the
leaves the wrong way, making the mother
read the end of each story before the
beginning.
THAT is not right, Harry; you are turn
ing backward y
mo, mamma" He turned the
leaves quickly the other way, showing the
back cover of the book That's back
ward"
While answering the questions of a
family of questioners, ore naturally gains
experience in the business. Here is one
method Of explaining words which has
been found effective. When a child asks
the meaning Of word, do not be foolish
enough to make him look it up in the
dictionary, as some strong minded parents
do, fondly imagining he will remember
better that way. Give definition In as
plain words as possible, In words he is
accustomed to use, and then give an illus
tration drawn from his own experience,
making your point that he can
apply the word himself, and so easily
grasp the meaning. Children never for
get such explanations as that, and they
will understand quicker and better than
you would suppose possible. If the ex-
PLANTATION makes him laugh, SO much
the better He will think about it; per-
haps repeat it. Only let it be prompt and
apt.
What does periodical mean?" asked
one young question asker.
at means happening regularly-at GER
tain times. For instance, you come down
periodically for breakfast.
The little maid, who loved TO be lazy,
caught the spirit at once. 81 don't al.
ways" she said, with twinkle Of her
eye.
mo: that is true replied the explain
er, severely. but you should. If break
fast is ready periodically you should come
down periodically to eat it.
The small listener looked solemn. But
though apparently uneonvinceI, she is
not likely to forget what periodically"
means.
"What does dispensing; Enean?' she
asked, after a minutes pause. ''Dispen-
sing with the machine?'
THAT means doing without for time.
We can dispense with that paper, l think,
while you eat YOUR luncheon.
.'Oh no, mamma, please! want to fin
ISL this story"
Now these explanations are there to stay.
She knows what the words mean, and un
derstanas them more clearly than all the
dictionary definition in the world could
teach her.-Harper's Bazaar.
The first known weather record was kept
by Walter Merle for the years 1887 to 1874
A few photographic copies of the original
Latin manuscript, now in the BodleiaD
library, have just been made.