The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-12-24

Their Eject Upon the Training of Chill
dren.

-
Their Eject Upon tho Training of Chill.
dren.
II people would only realize how very
easy IL is to teach children good man
ncrs when they were little. II seems 20 me
they never would neglect to attend 10
IL. The yourgster is allowed 20 go his
own way, TO violate every rule Of coCr-
tesy, sometimes Of decency. until his hab-
| its are TO an extent formed. Then there
Is a great breaking-up OF established
| notions. and the child is punished and
nagged and worried for doing that which
It has heretofore been permitted 10 DO
without criticism. 1t becomes anserei.
sullen. unsettled, and irritable. and II
1t has a strOrg sense OF tustice-which.
by tho way. is more common IN child
ren than people. as a rule, give them
credit for-it feels outraged and abused,
and be ,Cmes u~nmanageable and rebel
lious. The best school Of manners for a
child Is the parents example and home
training.
Company amer are. by all odds,
the worst element that ever entered in
to a family. Just why people should
indulge then selves in all sorts Of care
less, Indifferent, and ill-bred habits when
they are alone at home. and put on a
veneer OF courtesy, amiability. and polish
when somebody zones Is one OF the
many mysteries Of this very mysterious
thing we call life. How much easier IL
would he TO maintain the steady, uniform
department, to follow out tho same theo-
ries and hold to the same principles
Sunday and week days, storm and shine,
alone or In society. Neneers are a make
shift They have their uses. but are Tar
f,.- .Va~fr. Hfa fHap tho solid material
all through. One lasts for a little while,
the other weathcrs the storm Of time,
hard usage and the wear and tear OF
everyday life. one Is temporary n
wears out with a little contact with the
world; the other grows better with every
passing year. The earliest training OF a
child should be in strict conformation
with the most approved society into
which il is born. That which is known
as Sunday anners or good behavior
should be the infeXible rule Of the house
hold.
one Of the prettiest sights IN the
world was witnessed i'm "a public place the
other day, when a boy Of nine years
stepped out in advance OF his mother
and older sister, opened the door. held
it with one hand, courteously raised his
cap with the other. and waited for them
TO pass through. 1t put the blush Oh
more than one mature cheek. and caused
many a mother with growing children
20 wonder why II was that her boys never
did anything Of that sort. The simple
reason was that in that household court
esy was enforced from the cradle. The
boy never had been permitted 20 sup
pose that he could pass through a door
and allow il to swing back into the
face Of his seniors. At the age Of nine
years he could offer his mother his arm,
escort her 10 the table. place her chair
her, pick up her fan. handkerchief.
or gloves and perform any Of the little
polite acts of every day existence with
the dignity n grace Of a courtier. To
say that he was admired b. every one
would not be I'm the least an e~Xaggefa-
ton. In what striking contrast was his
with the Indifferent. lounging
carelessness Of most Of the boys vita /
whom ne was associated. But TO attain
The degree Of ease and polish. IL is scarce
" necessary 20 say that the s~trictest
Jules Of good breeding were constantly
observed in that family.
IL may be said that such things take
90 much time and trouble. and that
mes home is a place Of relaxation and
indulgence In ones personal peculiarities
While this IA be so the question would
Hlhledldtely arise just what habits %
should be allowed. and whether
Inder ~ circumstances. bad manners,
1anng. and extreme carelc2sncse are 70
e tolerated. When once one is trained
good form. some OF the most objection
bic features Of every day INDULGENCE
ecome as disiasteful as they were afore-
me thought comfortable and most ne
essary. All Of which goes 10 prove
he truth of the old quotation. How
sc doth work a habit in a maa."-New
Ork Ledger.