The herald., 1894-01-14
TBY 1. BEHYMER. ]

fBY L. BEHYMER.
One of the most peculiar books lately
written and put before the public comes
from the Arena Publishing company OF
Boston.
It ia the Childhood Of an Affinity, by
Katharine E. Rand.
Although this little book is written
about children, it is written less for
them than for grown persons. who per-
hsps may be led by it to consider more
minutely what the inner life Of young
people is. 1t il often said, and most
truly, that parents know very little OF
their own children's experiences. Per-
haps the great cause OF this 10 their re-
luctance to believe that these expert
ences ara just what they really are. 1t
is so pleasant for parents to think that
their child, for whose life they are
responsible. is really just that little
innocent, laughing. boyish creature tnat
it seems, and so difficult to imagine that
once out of their sight and among other
children, it becomes transformed.
In our forced American civilization it
ia 4 deplorable fact that children Of IL
relations to each other young men and
women, and that jealousy and bitter
mesa and q vast number of sentimental
emotions are already ahoat among them,
and not by any means to be done away
with merely by closing our eyes to them.
It is most unfortunate that it is 30, but
there stands the fact, and all valuable
systems Of education must recognize and
not ignore it. The intention OF the
author in writing this book is to present
as clearly as possible picture OF inner
childlife, as she knows it to exist, and
particularly to dwell upon the relations
between boys and girls, which course she
has faithfully carried out. The major
part of the book is taken up with this
subject aud occupies an amount OF space
somewhat out of proportion to that
which it occupies in life, but as the book
is written especially about this very
thing, and intended to emphasize it, the
reader will readily see why it is neces-
sary to say SO much upon the subject.
AS far as the emotions. actions and
thoughts described are concerned, moth
ing but an absolutely correct impression
is given. Every father and mother will do
we'll to read this particular portion OF
the book and think more than once
"where is our SON or daughter this even
ing, and who are thev with ?" The
trouble with the American boys and
girls is the unlimited freedom they enjoy
and too little of their parents company
and sympathy and advice. For the
many facts described by the author she
has drawn largely upon her knowledge
OF her own childhood and of some OF hel
most intimate friends, and but very lit
tie upon her imagination. The scenes
which the reader will consider most i'm
probable are real scenes, changed only
in details. and not in important points
The entire object of this little story
beyond mere wish to amuse, is to draw
attention to the fact that, whether it ii
good or evil, fortunate or deplorable
such is the condition OF things among
the majority or the American chill
dren of the present day. Thei
problems and temptations are more
complicated than we are prone to think
and ON account of this their characters
at Is or 16 are much more fully formed
than we often imagine. This being the
case, their surroundings, companions
and education during their most i'm
pressionable period become doubly i'm
portant, and it is almost invariably thu
case that vices and weaknesses which
do not show themselves until severa
years later are really implanted during
the years of childhood.
knowledge of the true inner life o
the child is the only safeguard agains
erroneous or inadequate methods of ed
ucating and developing its character
That such knowledge is extremely diff
cult to acquire does not alter the fact o
its necessity. The way to reach tn
inner life is by making conf
dants of the children; max,
them your playmates; be comrade
with them--yes, veritable chums-ssl
for their counsels, az well as givin
them advice. Give them more of you
time-make their evenings pleasant a
home, let them take part in your ex
cursions, your morning walk, and man
condolences you will receive that woul
otherwise have bean withheld. A care
full reading of this book will find man
a responsive heart beat from a reade
whose own life or whose children's live
are only too vividly brought home
them. 1t is q true book, true to nature
and contains pictures of everyday Life
Like all of the Arena books, it has
purpose, and, although the purpose is
peculiar one, still it is a needed ont
and too much cannot be said on thi
subject, on which 80 little has yet bee
written. Read and find out yourselves
it will not be time wasted.
=+z
From the press OF Dodd, Mead & @,
of New York city comes Some Old Pu
itan Love Letters, edited by Josep
Hopkins Twitchell. In these degene
ate days, when the meanest causes
attraction between men and wome
masq as love, it is refreshing
chance upon reminders that true affet
tion stimulates all other virtues an
makes itself part of them. Such r
minder are Mr.. TwtcheIl's selection
from the correspondence OF John VIII
throp, governor OF the historic colon
in Massachusetts bay, and the your
woman who became his wife. Viii
the letters lack the gayety of SON
other love missives that are earnest an
harmless, they are full OF homer
warmth, and that indednable air of T,
spect and confidence peculiar 10 gre
and noble hearts. The couple learns
to their sorrow OF the roughnees of IL
way of true love- there seemed no on
OF obstacles to be Hurmounted, no ef
OF awful delays, but in both man al
maid there was also the powerful inf
ence of religious love and confdenc
which was too sincere to ever EXPIRE
5tao1f II, cant Tk ia a fashion nomada