The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1891-05-17

parental supervision aid duty. This APP
plies not more to one community than an
other. nor more to one than another sec
ton or nationality, though perhaps there
are none more remiss than the average OF
American parents in this respect.
Our people, as rule, are laudably par
tieular that their children shall have more
or less schooling. Most of them are at
least taught to read, write and cipher,
thus Frightening their intellects and
prompting them TO yearn for more. Many
parents are equally particular that for one
or two fleeting hours on Sunday, in church
or Sunday school, their children shall en-
Joy an opportunity for more or less OF re-
ligious and moral instruction and coun-
sci. But with many-vastly too many
American parents, right here all sense of
duty as to supervision and guidance of
their children begins and ends.
Seventy-five per cent. would perhaps be
moderate estimate of the American
parents who, having sent their Sabotage
children to school five days of the week,
and to church and Sunday school for an
hour or two on Sunday, felicitate them
selves that they have done remarkably
well and their full duty in respect to them.
The idea of observing or advising as to
their associations, or the manner of spend
ing their leisure hours, or of guiding them
in the selection of authors or topics for
regular or desultory reading, or in kind
and character of amusements. seems never
to enter the heads of these parents.
From II to fs-frequently from IL to To-
is the formative period as to tastes and
character with most children. An after
change in the tastes and character then
formed is little less than phenomenal. II
properly trained at that period they may
be safely trusted to shape their own tut
ure. If neglected or improperly trained
then, not much need be expected from
human influence or effort thereafter.
But true as all this is, and undeniable as
all candid people will admit it to be, and
tremendous as the responsibility it i'm
poses, it will be claimed by many fathers
that they are "too busy" and by many
mothers that they are too much over
whelmed with household duties and social
0biiEatAOhS w Oc utO0HA ~ ~
what kind of company their children keep.
what kinds of books they read, and how
they amuse themselves. And it is one of
the grandest mysteries of kind over
ruling providence that so many are saved,
that SO many acquire pure tastes and
characters, that so many become honest
and reputable, that so few take the down
grade to degradation, crime and ruin.
Books of the Jack Sheppard and Dick
Turpin class have made more highwaymen
and burglars than can be charged to all
other causes. The salacious novels that
have been and are the fashion are beyond
all other agencies increasing prohigacy
and destroying respect for virtue, home
and the marital relation. We pass laws,
and deserve credit for doing so, to prohibit
the sale of intoxicants to minors. But
how many parents exert an influence or
manifest any care-much less advocate the
passage Of laws-to keep these poisons of
intellect and morals out of the hands of
their impossible children7 These are Sc
rious questions, and worthy of serious
consideration