The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-02-04
NEW YORK FASHIONS.
NATE LEROY TALKS OF TRAINING
SCHOOL CHILDREN.
Some Serviceable and Handsome Costumes
for Girls of All Ages.-The Proper Sort
of Hats. Shoes and Stocking.

| A few days ago l was visiting friend
who has several children, all bright and OF
inquiring minds. One Of the boys asked
his mother to decide the question as u
whether tho sun or the earth moves. Nat
urally she told him the earth did, where
upon he stood up with his back TO the fire
| and putting his hands behind him said
gravely:
Mamma, do not wish to disagree with
you, but don't you think you are Mistaken
| Papa says we are to believe only what we
sec and not what is told US, and l say the
sun moves, for have watched it. IL comes
up over there in the morning and goes up
around so, and then goes down over there.
Now, how can anybody say the sun stands
still and the earth moyesf think it's rank
nonsense"
1t is not to settle the vexed question of
whether the sun do move" or not that |
have mentioned this, but because it showed
me how very greatly the fashions in train
ing children have changed. Forty years
ago children were hardly allowed to know
their souls were their own, and | do not
suppose that in all the world there was a
child then who would dare to stand up to
either of his parents with such ali air and
with strong unchecked opinions Of his own
In school the restless mind that dared
to question beyond the schOOlbooks was
promptly set back in his place, and the
rules were enforced by vigorous use of the
rattan or ferule. The embryo philosophers
were relentlessly kept TO the strict letter Of
the schoolroom law, and that was to learn
the lesson on hand well and leave ques-
tioning.
Those lessons that were, so to speak,
burned In with the rod were never forgot
ten, and when the time came for the boy
to make practical use of his knowledge he
had it ready for use. He learned his lessons
laboriously, but learned them well, as the
long list of names of well educated men
now gray haired can tell.
The girl who set her mind on her few
but standard and useful lessons, with
wholesome fear Of the ferule, has left as
good record for education as any of her
grandchildren who study under the more
modern fashion.
Parents in these days watch their chill
dren struggling TO learn rules for forming
letters or fgures-rules that are hopelessly
complicated and utterly ridiculous-and
luc - Acbblue Ill tuuCdJlOu.
In the old days the teacher would stand az
the blackboard and show how the letter
or figure was made, practically ex plainingit
at the same time, and the lesson was in
stantly learned and never forgotten.
There is too much flummery in the fash
ion OF schools now and little Of the author
ity that is necessary. Let the children
think and observe, certainly, but they
should be made TO follow the beaten track
of learning with such positiyeness that they
should accept facts as facts, and then il
they wish to know more let them study out
the causes instead Of calmly putting their
own judgment above that of their parents
and declaring that it is rank nonsense" TO
say that the sun does not move
The children OF today really have too
much made OF them for Seir own good,
though | would not for a moment have
them relegated to the background as they
are in some countries. They have as fine a
class OF literature as exists, the illustrations
being most exquistely beautiful; they have
toys more intricate and marvellous than any
their mothers possessed; they are taken
TO theaters and operas and are dressed in
elegant material. and their bodily health is
over with better understanding I
But the error in their training lies In the 4
fact that love and regard for ones children
have almost degenerated into an exagger-
ated idea-that they do not need to study /
as hard and laboriously as their parents |
did, and that what with modern aids and
story books the child may be saved the
most OF that tedious study. Governesses
and tutors, where the parents can afford
10 have them, when conscientious, come
nearer to the old regime than do the public
and private schools OF today, but the sooner
parents and children realize that there is
40 royal road to learning the better, and
discipline is necessary.
| had almost let my pen forget that had
eally set out TO give some Of the mothers
ew ideas as TO the preparing Of the spring
sardrobes for their sweet little daughters,
lad as we were jast speaking OF schools
We will look at some serviceable school
garments. The first is a diagonal striped
pugh tweed, made without q lining, but
'aving a hood cape lined with satin to
narch, ana Win narrow Dand or ngnt fur
round and down the front, which Is to be
emoved little later The hat Is cavalier
cit bordered with peacock flues. The mid.
le Is a redingote of striped cheviot and
slvet to match the dark stripe. A peaked
cit hat Is trimmed with bows Of ribbon
I'D CLIMBED featherA The little one has .