The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-06-22
Oandi cas- Riaho What Arc 7heyp

O1ldi cas- Riaht What Arc They9
Editor Mornng NeWs: We have heard
great deal a out "sta;e rights" the rights
OF man" and "womsn'5 rights," but there
are rights" that are very much overlooked
by fathers and mothers, and one that / feel
fully able to handle, from my close and
pleasant relationship toward children.
lave certainly impre ised many child in
this city, ana thoroughly understand the
chllG's mind. ] read the character and
teachings of a home in the character OF
child, that is to say. the outlines OF that
home. THE mother in her Office holds the
key Of tbs soul. and stamps the coin of
character" and, as the least spray upon
polished steel.willsrust it, SO the subtitle, del
lcate and gentle influence of a mother is
Impressed upon the heart and miad of q
child.
But my subject is one that should arrest
the attention of every parent: "Children's
Rights" and what are those rights The
hrst and foremost, to be kindly loved and
cared for. From che home must 20 the
future men and women to take the place of
a generation departed. The child's mind is
but garden in which either good or hurt
1ul seed will grow and flourish; and the
mothers great duty is to weed out evil seed,
even though they be innate. AS our
children are to be the fathers and mothers
OF another generation, how important that
their education be- one of character, OF prin-
clple, Of right thinking and doing Edu-
cation. Of which we hear so much, but little
understood, should mean something more
than mem orizing, absorbing or repeating,
parrot-hke, the 8ayiDgs aud beliefs or
others; tho records Of facts, history and
biography.
The rights" Of child are the right to
think, to ask questions and to have those
questions answered truthfully and intelli-
Oily. What Is thought but declaration OF
Sgrowlng soul within, an eager desire TO
knowa As Eve desired wisdom, as her sur
rouudings did not fill the hunger of her
mind to be wise, she ate to be wise; and 80
children ash questions TO be wise. A child
VINO asks nd questions is treading the bor-
DER land OF idiocy or mental imbectlity.
a child hae no soul, but the germ OF
soul; just 40 IL has tongue but no voice,
nut az soon sc the vocal cords are developed
and words begin to flow the soul is developed
with the understanding of the child Death
IN infancy 10 but the trnnsplanting OF that
germ IN a spiritual soil to grow and develop
with spiritual surroundings In mature
age heaven lie to be won; life is but battle
with our passions and desires.
A child contains within itself all the at
tributes OF good qualities. The germ is per-
iecs, 1t sprouts, brings forth in time limbs
ano leaves, but caunot be independent OF
the atmosphere and the evils Of myriads Of
insect life which may feed upon it; but il
the tree be vigorous aud strong, it may re-
eiSt the eSAA about it. So if character in
cdlld is stisxE it will resist evil influences,
Out that character must find nourishment
and strength at home. A child is but
,ulcrocosm. a little man or woman, within
1ne universal macrocosul, and must be a
part OF 1t. Then the rights Of child are 10
az to its parents: Be true, be just, be wise
oWard me, 50 that the world viii be better
or my having been bern.