The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-25

time. IL would, therefore. be reasonable to con-
sociStionNas in the case OF rocking with sleep
In nrboreal dwcllers- would still be found TO In
nucnce children very long after arooreal life
IL is certainly singular TO find that nursery
dItties contain rcferenge to matters nrboreal as
human race OF ancestors who lived in trees.
Thus the English mother OF nurse In rocking
her infant to sleep sings!
Lullaby baby on the tree top;
WHEN The wind blows the cradle shall roeckhi
when the GoSFh breaks Ssn II" cradle . MI e
Somewhat similar is q German nursery ditty;
schlsrc, schlaf elm, meIn Kind,
Horcht IA draussen der Wind;
WWitest er aSsh dich IL sGsssin Traum.
Nowhere is q stage Of a former nrborcnl life,
with 'ts consequent climbing instinct. mani
tested more conspicuously than in the insane
desire OF an infant 10 climb up stnirs.. As soon
as crawling IL an accomplishment the climbing Of
crawl about r Ioms the child will not; II. must
make for the. nearest stairs to climb with loud
crows Of delight. Tumbles and consequent
bruises have no effect on the child's climbing in
stinct, and really II regards them for less thar
the prohibition Of its climbing feats BY y toe fond
climb; even u fall down the whole flight OF stairs
only checks the climbing mania temporarily; in
apurobation OF its own ciumsiness. and may vent
its anger In hDwls. Rut this episode over, " VIII,
within n quarter OF pn hour, hrpvely attack the
stairs again. having quite forgotten its late
disaster. Al instinct held SO tenaciously cannot
he regarded as s9methlnG lVrtu,tuMs; nHtwnt
boys was q relic OF monkey ancestors; but ne
made no observation on the stait-climbinG In
stinct of infants. Mothers, unfortunately, do
moi always possess enough scientific calmness TO
watch an infant climb stairs with every chance
experiments. But il left. alone ant that is the
best plant Is remarkable how soon the child
learns not TO tumble; ana then the mother hee'l
have no more FEAR.
JOHN COMES HONESTLY BY his ROW LEGS.
The early efforts of a child in learning to walk
indicate the habits OF an animal to whom the
upright position Ia something strange. The
baby is decidedly 6owlegged, but this shape of
leg would be, exactly that necessary, Tor tree;
SiimhinE qua GpSdr nmis nn,v w, MHhe emit, IT IS na ,rss 81 st" its
feet to the ground, and turns us toes III: II
does not allow Its heels to touch the ground;
when a monkey walks ON a branch II does
to touch the branch. When 9 dog sits,
the M SSms sI part into contact with the ground Is
We do in standing: IT, brings its hoCks theeisl
fiat fla tho to t sne Er SnI ,d Ssu Sq HRIRiIdrsn rs sr wE very
fond OF sitting on their heels" in the same
manner as a,dog when y begs. The dilirrence
standing OF u child is in the STRENGTHENING Of
the knee joints in the latter, As y dog has not
OF its quadrupedal habits. IL cannot stand on is
hooks as we can; as soon rs IL raises it, body ON its
hind legs 1t elevntcs the hook from the ground.
The power TO straighten the knee joint, and so TO
put the hook to the ground. is not inhcrent III
babies Z Sat at first; b i Is IS G nsSu Py p r. Ws1 IN if Tbs HSisss
ancestors have always been animals walking on
their hooks, should these processes have TO DO
Tine movements and habits Of a young baby
seem so strange TO rs because they are 80 differ
ent from those made by adults, and because they
are so unconsciously performed. Joy 10 ex-
pressed by muscular movements. by WEIGHING
of he arms. when il is small: by Juggling" when
1t IL larger. These movements. are expressive OF
joy because TO any animal Of highly developed
muscular energy movement. is absolutely es-
sential and particularly pleasing. while stiffness
is the reverse. IL is muscular excitement.
ccstors who knew not what 1t was, 70. he still;
that gives that restleSsncsS to children and
causes them To find so much pleasure in mere
Jumping for Joy is very literally correct OF y
child's expression OF pleasure. Inc prospect OF
delight; and they further serve the purpose or
relieving the tedium Of waiting, the half second
finding a birds nest with eggs IN it-a pleasure
which must have been very real sometimes In
but is now only a survival Of the instinct thus
formed-this pleasure n boy expressed by u
ing the performance not only were the arms
and legs moved as much as possible, but the
muscles of the stomach and vocal organs
adults. wien limb movements are less
action involved. a necessary accompaniment, Of
Joy, noticeably AIRY on a Bank Holiday; while
jo s" and not eostSoefs anger. All these outwari signs
have had their origin in that nerve excitation
from ancestors who. impelled by hunger. by
love. or by war, led more active lives. and
IneSpy V ThiIdren aHd Young lambs are very
familiar examples. and So strongly will the lat
ter pursue their Rambols and racings that a
death in the. middle OF a sudden gallop.
II children have e. be still it Is tor
cases-and grown;up people are unaware how
much. or they, would not thoughtfully inlet IL
growing pain in the limbs. are all the result OF
enforced inactivity in children. II is similar
with athletes; their muscular, excitement Is so
strong that movement Is pleasure. stiffness
means pain. and they are noted for restlessness.
WICKED. But NATURAL TO STEAL
Another animal relic which exists In chill
dren Is an instructive desire for stealing. espe.
cially for stealing fruit. which. however hard
and unripe, seems 10 give the child pleasure.
Stealing certainly, points, 10 the time when
exseeriions ' fr what food Il got. and when the
readiest method OF obtaining such food was
+" SPP n1@s ac,o without Ths GSeSs Hn f %nI n ! and u
unripe fruit indicates a necessity which would
be Incidental TO m3nkey;like life-to times Of
scarcity. when anything in the shape OF fruit,
no matter, what 1t might be. was gladly well
With the above another childish trait may ad-
vantagconsly be compared-namely, the habit OF
taking things to bed. especially such articles as
desire TO take things for fear OF other children
obtaining them, and when a child takes OF Il,
bed such articles as a collcctlon OF clotheS'
brushes. or an array OF old boots. it seems like
taking for taklng's. sake. Thus, one boy was
dies, unscrewed for the occasion, several
pieces OF old iron, two hair brushes,
and a tobacco tin. Many causes have contrib
uted to form this habit. First, there is the
earlier inheritance, OF the maternal instinct;
the mother taking her young 10 sleep with her,
in order to feed and comfort 1t, would give the
idea of taking TO bed anything exciting fond
ness-dolls, toys, &c. Then there Is the food in
stinct-the draRginR-fO food -intO-the. lair idea
with which may be associated "A particular fond
ness of children for something TO eat when they
are in bed; and then there Is the proprietary
idea, arising from the feeling that 10 keep pos
session of articles it is necessary to sleep with
them. II not on them. When II young child
Is trying to resist another taking things
away from II. the usual method IL pur-
sues is 10 put the articles between It's legs.
to push away its assailant with its hands.
and to scream loudly, During the scream IL
brings its mouth into "a particular shape to
show its canine teeth To the best advantage,
and 4 frequently puts IFS head forward, es-
pecially prOtruding the chin so that the other
animal may have "a good view OF ITS canine
teeth. This Is what the reason was; with a
child, of course. It il a case OF Inherited habit
and association, because IL has never known