The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1892-05-03
BRINGING UP THE CHILD.
\ Subject Of Very Much Interest to
Every Mother in the
Land.
Mrs. Chaunoey M. Depew Tolls
How She Acts With
Her Charges.
Languages for Little People to Learn
The Proper Age for school-Dan-
cling and Fairy Stories.

If one were called upon to describe BY a
single word the life of a well-brought-up
child, says the Chicago News, that word
would be ''simplicity." Three little people
whose daily lives are excellent instances of
sensible training are the son and two or
phan neioas of Mrs. Chauncey NJ. Depew-
Chauncey NJ. Depew, Jr., who was II years
old last July; Anna Bradford Hegeman,
who is in her fifteenth year, and Charlotte
Niven Hegeman, who ID named after her
grandmother. Mrs. Depew's mother, and is
not yet ID.
IT hardly know said Mrs. Depew to an
int viewer, "what to tell you about the
children's education, for thoir lives are 30
perfectly simple. They all speak French
and German huently. Since their carly
childhood they have had a French COVER
ness and a German maid, and 30 have ac-
CURED both languages easily and almost
unconsciously. Then, too, whom Mr.. Depew
is not at home ! always converse with them
at table in one language or the other; one
day in German and the next in French. l
think it insures q more correct form of
speech for a mother to share in her ohild-
ren's conversation in some such way. My
mother and Mr.. Dapew always speak to
them in English. We consider it very inn
portant that their own language shall not
be neglected while acquiring foreign ones.
In this way they have obtained a command
OF three languages quito naturally with no
study and with very little effort.
'.Ihey all three attend school now; my
two nisoes q school for girls, and my son a
boys preparatory school. ! do not believe
g, ~, a~n}usiyalv hama a1unaticp fnp r a.,
not think that it is possible to make the
course of training IA thorough as that OF a
good school, and l also think it we'll for
them to go among other children. But do
not believe in sending children to school
very early. Twelve years old is quite soon
enough. They need plenty of time to
strengthen and develop their bodies before
beginning to tax their brains. and then at
that age they are better able to understand
thor lessons and to apply themselves.
/ am glad to see that the system OF
'marks' is being so almost entirely done
way with in schools. | think that it was
bad for the children in many ways. / do
not believe much either in 'pri1es' or re-
wards. It is 80 much better for them to
Leu Il to do the work for ia own sake, be-
cause it is right: for love and not through
fear or emulation. They are quite musical
and all taks music Lessons. do not thiak
it ID we'll, however. unless one has a decided
talent, to devote too much time to music.
1t would be much better TO give that tlme
to some other talent that one might pos
sess, and of so much more benefit.
"Thsy all show decided talent for draw
ing, which they are eulsivating. They also
take dancing lessons. Dancing is such
good exercise for all parts of the body, and,
too, it teaches them to walk and to carry
themselves we'll. Light oalliathenics are
also excellent, and they practice them for
aeertain time every day. They keep early