Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-10

too, than their predecessors, In that Solo
mon, with all his wisdom, is also going out
Of fashion. Through belief in the inspi-
| ration Of his Proverbs the rod was held to be
household necessity In the days agone,
and pair Of "taws" hung in the kitchens
of the old houses was held to be q godly
institution. How bsrbarously fathers
thrashed their children in accordance with
the idea that the. ''rod of correction" would
drive foolishness far from them, and in
Difference to the words of Solomon when he
asserts that "he that spareth the rod hateth
his own sonp'
Good fathers and mothers used to imagine
that their children would grow mp into
terrific sinners if they were not sufficiently
switched Tor every little wrong they hap
pened TO do. Some imagined they were
committing this barbarity in the most
Solomouic style, if they deferred the thrash
ing until bed time, when the poor little
trembling sinner instead of being "snugged"
down in bed with loving kindness, was duly
whipped and prayed over and left to cry
himself to sleep. Another common iashioa
used to be to whip boy for playing
hook" and sending him to oed without
any supper. Did such course make the
sinners any fonder Of school? Not whit.
It only made them more stubborn, more en-
bittered and more inclined to lie in order to
escspe. Severity makes hypocrites, not
in the family circle" remarks Herbert
Spencer, sis merely the complement to I'M
morality. Rods and ferules, equally with
the stats and handouts OF the constable.
the jailor's keys, the swords, bayonets and
cannon with which nations restrain each
other, are the offspring of iniquity, and CO.
ercion in all its forms is essentially vicious"
Doesn't Agree With Solomon.
Spencer is evidently at the "outs" with
Solomon, but his philosophy is what the
world is growing up to while the barbarous
system of Solomon with regard to the train
ing of children is dying out. In old times,
when women stayed at home under apostolic
injunction, and only men were teachers,
they were ottentimes elected for their ability
to slick the boys" rather than for their
scholastic attainments. We have been told
of man in one of the schools of PiLtsburg
who was selected simply because he was big
enough, and strong enough, and dogged
enough to fog and floor the big boys, but
whose knowledge of the three RS was by no
means up to par. His fame was founded on
his power to WELD cowhide.
Now that women are in the schools and
corporal punishment has fallen into disfavor
~
when he SO strongly advocated the rod.
Many vows of vengeance were made by the
pupils OF that man to thrash him when they
grew up, but well perhaps for all he died
before they were fulfilled. In those days
when Solomon's rule was more in vogue
than at present the domestic freside is
said by writer "to have been theater Of
war where often tragedy was enacted by
the sons, who had attained their majority,
retaliating upon their father for the blows
he had given them as children" The use
of the rod as enjoined by the wisdom of
Solomon results in revenge, in lying, in
hypocrisy, with all their attendant evils
Domestic Despotism No More.
In outgrowing this barbarity the world is
becoming better. Kindness, sympathy and
humanity are taking the place of the old
time domestic despotism, and under their
rule homes are made brighter and happier,
and the olive branches under the sunshine Of
love grown to fairer proportions and nearer
to perfection. Solomon or no Solomon,
Bible or no Bible will never whip another
child" said good woman who had used the
rod upon little darling for some childish
misdemeanor. IT feel as il I were q cruel
monster" Experience and expediency, to
say nothing Of love and humanity, prove
that Solomon is about used up as an su-
thority for the training of children.
The danger would seem to be now in rush
ing to the other extreme. In that elder day
they were treated as puppets. and not
allowed to open their heads. No proverb
was more impressed than that "children
should be seen and not heard" For even
small infractions Of the domestic law they
were soundly whipped aud put to bed. Now
adays with many people they are encouraged
to be nuisance. Children have their
rights but 50 have their elders At the
other extreme from the barbarism OF Solo
mon, there are parents who pamper and sub
ject themselves to their children in q way
that promotes, not their happiness, but
selfshness-tbat instead Of encouraging the
good in them gives growth to the evil. BY
taking them to theaters, parties and other
entertainments, they force q knowledge Of
the world upon them that shortens the Joys
OF childhood, that makes them unnatural
little prigs, immature coquettes, or sharp
little creatures
Almost Too Smart to Live.
Then at school they are "crammed" and
jammed and driven like galley slaves by re-
lentless teachers into an arduous struggle
Tor high percentages at competitive e1ami-
nations, and into gaining high marks az ex-
hibitory shows. Then when it is remem-
bered how girls are martyred at the piano
who have no talent for music; how boys are
ground but as clerks who would be better at
anything else; how both are subjected to the
prejudices, whims and narrow notions of
their parents and teachers, 1t will be seen
that with all the advance that has been
made they have their tribulations and draw
backs as we'll as those who were brought up
under terror of birthstone and corporal pun
ishment. - ,
To be happy children need light. air, SUE
shine, love, freedom and protection. That
they have more Of these now than Of old is
made manifest by the contrast of the past
and present. BESSIE BRAMBLE.