Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1895-06-01
CILTIt ATING NERVES.
The Injurious Eject OF NagsinE
Tpou Children.
New York Trlbune)

(New York Tribune)
Or. Edison ranges the husbands OF nag
gers in three classes. Men OF the first
clas. are melted to brutality and Vlo-
lence Husbands Of the second class avoid
their homes and seek solace in clubs and
saloons. Those of the third class, VINO
remain devoted 10 their naggers' are
usually of nervous temperament, and some
have been driven insane by exposure to
continual fault-nnding, which Is more IN
furious 10 the brain than overwork. But
II the irritable nagging OF the woman
IL n consequence of il-health when the
husband understands this fact the nag
girg often ceases 10 have any injurious
eraCt on him. The case Is different with
chi,--en. Nagging is equally injurious
10 their nervous systems, whether the
mother is an invalid or has no such eX-
cuse.
A woman who had lost her mother in
early childhood said To a friend: Eyes,
[ know she was always suffering, ana
now, when | can realize what she had TO
bear. / think of her with pity and ten
derness: but the effect Of the fault-tnd-
ing and injustice cannot be effaced. 1t
emblttered my childhood. When l hear
others speak Of blessed memories IL cuts
me- to the heart that [ have no memory
Of motherly. loving words. You knew her
% we'll that IL Is no dlsloyalty TO speak
OF II 20 you. | remember one day-you
were in the room. too-when she RACED
at Joey till l caught up the little Sob
bling fellow and carried him away; and,
unhappily he remembers Il, and has
spoken OF &c many tines An orphan
girl lived for some years In a house where
there was continual nagging and fault
finding from mother and father. sisters
and brothers. She had spent few weeks
With a gentle. motherly woman, and on
the last c5y OF her visit. as she sat
with the loving arms about her, she
said, looking up with pititul appeal in
the sensitive face: oh, you don't know
how sorry / am TO leave you. I'm sorry
for many reasons, but most Of all because
your voice is so sweet and soft. Some
voices-hard. angry voices-seem 10 go
through and through me. l dread, dread
10 hear them" She shuddered and Iut
her hands TO her ears. Presently with
drawing them. she said: Perhaps youll
think II strange fancy OF pne, but
sometimes when / awake at night | think
Of the last judgment. It's not the thought
OF God judging me that frightens me, but
| .dTe a terror OF the voices and the
noises; and more than anything else |
fear the sound OF the angel blowing the
last trump" The effect OF continual
nagglng on that child's nervous system
requires no comment.
A VIVID RECOLLECTION.
4 vivid recollection Of visit to a sum
mer resort is Of an irritable, invalid
mother and her unhappy, harassed boy.
She nsgged at him in the diningroom TIL
the poor child lost all appetite. One
morning the father came down alone,
and explained that mother was not well
enough 10 come TO breakfast. Wherein
the boy, with childike frankness, eX-
claimed. "Oh, I'm so glad" Then, seeing
his fathers reDroying glance, he explain
ed: You know, papa, I'm not glad she's
sick; but-but l do enjoy my breakfast
80 much more when she's not here
The woman was an egotlst. Her own all
ments were her continual theme, and the
comfort OF her husband and child was
wholly dsregarded.
81 think mamma doesn't like me,
auntie," said another sensitive child.
"Oh, il she would only sometimes seem
satisfied with me, and speak 70 me az
you do TO Nelliei / used 10 try SO hard
TO please her, but IL isn't any good; for
no matter what / do she always thinks
IL is wrong" Two little girls were talk
ing of their governess, an irritable, I'M
sympathetic woman, who should never
have been placed In charge Of children.
Said one, clapping her hands and dancing
about the room: 1--WE just heard the
most delightful news. It's almost too
good 90 be true. Miss A. Is going TO be
married, and our next governess is to be
a really kind woman. Papa said So
"Oh, you selfish. selfish girl" replied her
sister, "you might be glad she's going
TO leave us; but how can you be glad
she's going to be married? Haven't you
any feeling for the poor man Think
what life he'll have with her. And no
matter how she scolds, he'll have to stay
married
One sees nervous. nagglng women IN
charge OF schools, and must heartily pity
them, for they are Obliged TO earn their
living; nevertheless, they are running the
disposition OF the children; and, in spite
OF almost frantic efforts, cannot maintain
discipline. Oft-reiterated complaint ceases
to have remedial effect.
A handsome woman, whose face bore
traces OF a sweeter disposition In girl
hood was unhappily married to a drunkard.
With her large family, small means and
the misery Of seeing the man return night
after night in a disgusting condition OF
intoxlcation, she had a heavy burden 20
bear. But she did not rail at the man;
she feared driving him 10 lower depths.
The results OF her disappointment and
worry were visited on the unfortunate
children. She was not by nature a moth
erly woman The children came into
the world without a welcome. and were
made to realize IL. Shaken. sc0lded. UNI
reasonably accused they had no home IN