Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-31
SMALL TALK FOR WOMEN.
Point In Etiquette From Pittsburg-1ho
Right Age to Go to College = Making
Little Folks Useful - Women's Ideas OF
NeCkties


Right Age to Go to College = Making
Little Folks Useful - women's Ideas of
Neckties.
WRITTEN FOR THE DIsPArCH.]
American parents are proverbial for the
indulgence of their children, and in many
cases this indulgence is carried so far that
the children eclipse their parents and bend
all household ways to suit their childish
caprices In many homes children are
waited upon too much and would be happier
and better if they were trained to render
little services to their elders. A child's
natural activity and pride delight in uties
and responsibilities that are not too burden
some, and there is no keener pleasure for
well trained boy or girl than the sense of
being trusted. This characteristic may be
developed and these natural activities
trained into helpful deeds.
The mother takes endless steps and con-
stant care of each little one, and as soon as
possible she should begin to require little
services. 1t takes longer for little feet to
toddle across the floor for the pencil than to
go ones self, but so will it be with every at
tempt at training the unskilled hands and
feet 1t is easier for a mother to sew the
seam, to darn the stocking or to make the
bread than to guide the daughters awkward
fingers in the same work, but any sensible
woman knows that mother who fails to
teach these things does both the child and
herself injustice.
Things Child Should Do.
There are countless services that are
within the capacity of even very young
children. Picking up their playthings,
pushing the chairs into their proper places,
handing trifies to each other, carrying mes
sages from one adult to another are some
instances Children can be taught always
to put their clothes upon chair and not to
drop them on the floor; to hang up their
coats and hats If low hooks are provided
for them; to hang up the towel and wiring
out the wash cloths instead of leaving them
in damp heap. Where there are set
bowls, children should not be allowed to
leave dirty water standing, nor under any
circumstances to leave soap soaking. A
hassock or box should be provided SO that
the child can reach.
With a little supervision . child Of 3
should be able to take his own bath and
pick out his own clean clothes. He can be
taught to fix his clothing at night so that
turned sleeves and twisted stockings need
not make him late to breakfast. Girls at 6
and years old can put away clean clothing
when brought in its basket to the chamber
floor They can bring the baby's clothes to
mamma, each child having the pleasant
liberty of choice in bib and gown and
open their beds in the morning, even
10 TN Sheete
blankets get all awry. Soiled clothes can
be put into their proper place by their
owners. Then there are the match safes to
be filled in each room. and the burnt match
receptacles to be emptied. 1t takes but a
few glances from sharp eyes to see them,
and few steps from nimble feet to do the
work, but such little things are help to q
busy mother who has two ways to turn for
every moment.
Implants the Habit OF Helpfulness.
Then the little son can sweep the steps
With his own small broom, and pick up the
papers that continual advertising brings
into the dooryard. He can pick up the
chips and fill the woodbox or basket, and
learn to lay the open fires. There are the
inkstands to be filled, and the pencilst to be
sharpened for both mamma and papa
These can be trusted to older children.
piled neatly, and how proud child will
feel when he can read and can sort the re-
cent from the old papers. The halfgrown
daughter can water the plants, feed the
bird and FIJI the vases and empty them, too,
before the flowers have Uttered the table
with their dropping petals.
When she visits grandmamma or auntie
what good chance she has to learn how to
cook some little dish with which to surprise
mamma
These few hints of loving duties and help
full ways serve to illustrate how girls and
boys can be taught, little by little, to want
to be helpful, to see for themselves things
to do and ways to show their love by
thoughtful attentions. They learn in this
way to be orderly, industrious considerate
and to have some appreciation of the many
steps taken to make them well and happy.
Some children learn quickly without
suggestions but no mother ought to be dis
couraged if she has not only to ask but to
remind child many times of his duties.
Plenty of praise and notice for the little
deeds will help weak memory, while
gentle blame or carefully showing of what
caused the failure will stimulate the pride
and interest until that mighty power, the
habit of helpfulness, has been thoroughly
implanted and will go on growing naturally
and easily. AGNES BAILEY ORMsBEE.