St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-12-26
THE PLAGUE OF CHILDREN.

! A Gloomy Outlook From the Parental
Point Of View.
II it be true that misery loves com
pany." the average American parent,
bewailirg or v~ituperatiug the, ipsubor.
dination of American childfen now.
adays, would get great comfort outYoi
reading a series Of articles and letters
that have recently been coming out in
the London Daily Telegraph. TIE NJ
ticles alluded to seem to take. it. for
granted that English chp1ren1re fasl
getting to take the same view of par
outs that IVES laid down in Chief Jus:
~ Tansy's famooSds3ision about nes
gross, nsmsly. thesl 19they havei NO
rights that any one \ obliged to. ~
spect" while the letters in rcply frs
nish % end glowing NJ astratiOnso of
the toxk sd t7'f 10
Ons unhapP1 0aEhsN FOR sxanpbs,
W1nA0SAVf6ffowing touching expesi-
ences with her innocent little girl. ! ust
four years old: ~ take her out with
me. and she disgraces me with sueh ~
marks as this: Mamma. that Adysface
is dirty oh. no. 1 quickly reply;
you mustn't be so rude Mamma
don't contradict says. my young mon
itor." Next the reader is allowed to
overlook a pretty picture of the little
girl playing with her dolLgs Nov,
you're mamma; take that" upon which
the sweet innocent goes through. with
certain needful prelininaries and pro-
ceeds vicariousiy to spank mamma 81
corrected her n day at tea" proceeds
the same distracted mother, airing her
tribulations through the benighted me-
dunn of the press. ''and she spoke up
before q lady friend staying with me:
Mamma. don't talk with your mouth
full"" All which narrated, the haFless
woman calls upon the London Daily
Telegraph and all England, JIM parlea
mcnt assembled, II put her under
eternal obligation tSthkub ~ MGtdA
ing some possible remedy.
Mamma, don't contradic'-' .MLaQ,
ma, take that" s'.MasnhiS dong tAk
with your mouth full.'-here are three
EXPLANATIONS which. as proceeding
from the same root prineiplA bro
fraught to the philosopher mind with
the gravest historic significance. In
stead of q weak-minded mother hass
we not here a woman of truly prophetic
insight into the spirit Of the tske.. the
age Of developed yeason? The only
trouble with her Il thatak e&asrd0kS9fi
become wholly adjusted II her new
environment, o quote the language
Of Herbert Spencer. Reason is the sob
FINEST Of all emsneipators.sf Itsintts-'
duces the mind OF the little girl Of four
into . realm Of law 50 vast so alf-eon-
pretending, 50 aSspiste and SeferRlis-
its sway, that all petty distinctions of
age, experience anduathority are swal-
lowed up and reduced to n~othipgness.
"Don't contraiic'." 1t is the impcra-
tive rule for al:-cfikitFn. psfGbH an
gels archangelS Don't talk with
your mouth fnE..'' Before this Auprame.
law of table manners thc Roman Csnsar
on his throne. the pope in the vatican,
the grand lama Of Thihet are but rs
. little negro boy engrossed in q water
melon. Tremb:e then. o. parents,
kings. priests. tyrantS repufed sacred
books. The Tribunal is at hand, with
the anointed child Of Tour summoned
to preside over it. before which yon
must all appear to give answer how
lowlily you are conducting yourself in
its august presence. Mamma. that
lady's face is dirty" 10 is . question
Of fact and not OF authority. Either it
is dirty or it is not dirty-.sIf it is dirty
! will ont with the truth though the
heavens fall Allegiance to the cternai