The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-02-22
HOME AND FIRESIDE.
SELECTIONS ESPECIALLY FOR THE
FAMILY CIRCLE.

children as Home inaiscrs-Miss Harrison
Talks TO Mothers of Chicago Regarding
Their Duties-How to Cure a Cold-Recom-
mendations by n Trained Nurse.
Trimming the child to be home maker"
was the subject of Miss Harrison's lecture be-
fore the mothers class of the Chicago Kinder
rarten Training School at the Art Institute.
ON Wednesday last The Post of that city
gives the following abstract of the lecture
THAT prose poem by Goltz. The Book of
Childhood" said Miss Harrison, tells Us
that in childhood one feels as never again
the poetry Of a corner. of a little space shut
off from the larger space which
incloses it, Froebel has said that il is the
presentment. the dim feeling of the after
realization that houses and rooms are the fos-
tering and sheltering places of family life,
which is the reason why children so much en-
iOv building houses and little rooms with
their blocks. He urges the mothers to study
these early presentments Of toreshadowing
impressions, which are passing IN continuous
seres through the chllds mind. and when
exhibit themselves in his plays, imaginary
stories. and dav-dreans.
"'Uow different il would be with childhood.
with YOUTH and with manhood he eNclalms,
in all the relationships OF llte were each pre-
sentiment understood and strengthened IN
the child and its higher significance de,
veOped' This great prophet Of childhood
explains that this dim longing TO possess
home Of his own is the feeling which later on
makes man willing TO sacrifice much tor home
and family. This need Of sacrifice and self
discipline in order 10 attain the true home and
family life may be, and should be. taught the
child in his play
THE Carpenters Song we consider to-
day" continued Miss Harrison, tells of the
construction of the house that IS To be the
dwelling place of the parents and their chill
drcn. In this way the child begins 10 under
stand that through the labor of man comes
not only the transformation of the materials
of nature. but their combining into the shelter
which makes possible the home. Fir-t the
child must get the physical impressions and
gradually these are transformed into higher
intellectual and spiritual perceptions
The home limits both man and woman II
limits their seliishness, their emotion, their
incidence The question Is, how u the child
to be trained not only 10 realize this disci-
pline. but 20 value 1t Alright! Fr0ebel sug-
gests no grand truth that he does not point
out a way by which the child may be lead TO
accept it, He pleads for o long childhood
that the child may 90 over and over again the
play that prepares him for right living further
on in life Now 10 accomplish TINS the Wise
mother will say. When You are a man yOu
will do so and so: when You are a mamma. to
her little daughter You can tell your children
these stories or teach them this work Make
life one connected whole in the child's mind
Let the talk on such subjects be natural and
wholesome.
AS soon ne a child comes into a realization
Of what possession is, it * time 20 begin 20
educate him as a hOme-maker. Cultivate the
rrlt %
what later on will incite him 10 be a home
builder and sustainer. Respect his assumed
right TO certain corners and places. Even II
Won must require him 20 resign them, do II by
request and not by command.
Boys as well as girls should have this train
ing 1t Is said that man makes the walls Of
a home and a woman the atmosphere, but this
division is an error. the father, quite as much
as the mother. makes the atmosphere of a
home That brings me 10 the question of
dolls for boys. They should be encouraged
10 enjoy them There is every reason why the
man of the future should have his fathcrly
instincts cultivated. Girls are prepared for
society, boys for commercial or professional
activity, while the most important Office IN
life, that of parenthood. is neglected. Now Is
the time 10 secure 10 your children that most
precious of possessions. a happy home,
Therefore. talk TO your children in matter
of-course. dignihed way Of the relations Of
parents and their children. Let there be no
making light of the relationship or teasing
children in regard to it, but rather show them
how sacred, natural, and desirable II Is"