The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-16
TRAINING THE YOUNG.
An Able Lecture by DR.. Q ON Formtn
Habits In Children.

An Able Lecture by DR.. Dean ON Forming
Habits In Children.
In her address before the mothers meet
ing Of the Woraen's Christian Temperance
Union, DIR. Maria M. Dean made a plea
for the formation of habits in the child.
She said among other things: "The most
important of all things necessary to the de-
~ivslopmsnt Of a ound constitution. physic-
ally and morally. is the formation of sys-
tematic habits of living; of eating, drink
ing, sleeping, recreation and all these In
accordance with the laws of physical recti-
tude. Tho earlier such habits are estab-
lished in the child the frmer and deeper
will be your foundation FOR a sound body
govern the ordinary eating and drinking
and exercise are not SO often transgressed,
though at the daily table We will find a CEN
ter Of capitalization of the habit of the
growing child. Simple, wholesome food,
properly prepared, taken moderately, will
keep = man out OF hell if it doesn't
lead him to heaven. Do not let your
children acquire the habit of thinking that
eating is the chief end of life. They need
wholesome food and enough OF it. But
habits of immoderate eating should not DO
formed; avoid giving them too much meat;
avoid the use of condiments. A judicious
use of condiments in preparing food 10 not
harmful, but to see children unable to eat
good wholesome food unless it is covered
with hot sauces and strong condiments,
argues a very perverted state OF the
stomach, and l should be quite suspicious
of the morals of such q child later on.
Avoid the use of sweets in large quantities.
Do not let children acquire the habit OF
drinking tea and coffee. You may think
these suggestions have nothing to do with
the love Of Intoxicating liquors. You are
certainly mistaken if you think so. For a
sound wholesome body with normal appe-
tites has no avenues of attack open for the
enemy.
"But aside from the question of the active
habits of living our greatest danger lies IN
perverted rest and recreation. Rest might
properly be classed as an active habit OF
living. There is nothing else of which the
American child stands in creator need than
sleep. The night was intended for sleep
aud rest. When half the night and more is
consumed in wakeful activity, nearly half
the day, and the best part OF it too,
must be consumed in rest and inactivity.
The need of rest il true for all people. but
growing children are especially in need OF
II. This means sleep at regular intervals
and at early hours. II regular habits and
early hours for retiring arc formed 1T not
only fosters and preserves physical strength
but it protects the child from moral harm.
Mothers who allow their children to remain
up late at night are not only de-
frauding them of that rest
without which it is impossible to
obtain a healthful normal development,
but In addition they form habits that con-
tinue on and crave later hours and in
creased excitement; there are too many
that learn too late when the
young child is beyond control that habits
formed. tastes aud desires awakened
that cannot be overcome" Referring to the
habit of allowing children to fill their
stomachs at unreasonable times with IN
seasonable stuff, the lecturer said the de-
mands would grow. The boy would out
grow peanuts and highly colored candy.
He "Roes on to cigarettes and tobacco, and
as a result of this morbid state OF physical
other appetites clamor for sat
isfaotion. More truly speaking, As time
goes on they search for other forms of in
dulgence. From the days Of a little tod
ding babe, the youth has grow to look
his stomach as the main avenue Of
and the prostitution of its
his playground in recreation. As
his age increases more devastating stimu-
lants are needed and other organs are Called
to serve his pleasure" Y