The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-09-03
FINDING PETTY FAULT.
Is "Nagging'' a Weakness Characteristic
of Women?

ls NdBBlnB ~ wv eakneSS characteristic
of Women?
Is nagging an especial characteristic
OF women? "a well-known physician, a
student Of hearth as well as disease, has
called out indignant denials by printing
his opinion that it is. He has done it in
the most considerate way reminding one
or the person who, in calling another a
liar, said ne did not mean it opprobrlous-
ly, but merely stated 1t as a fact. And
the denials are made in a fashion quite
too feminine. 1T isn't so, and besides
there is good excuse for it." our defend
res say. Nervous irritabiity, a narrow
ing and belittling sphere the constant
presence of obnoxious and vexatious per
sons-what wonder that human nature
exhibits unlovely traits under these prov
ocations? 1t will do us no harm to look
this accusation fairly in the face, and
see whether 1t be a familiar of ours
with new and ugly name. There is no
dictionary at hand and 1 cannot verify
my definition, but / suppose that what
is meant by the word "nagging" is a
constant repetition Of petty reproof or
command. It is a habit which every
conscientious housekeeper and every
thoughtful mother is very much in dan
ger of weaving for herself and for fear
of which many woman lets things
CO." to the injury of her home and her
children. How often the tired mother
has picked up" after her husband and
children or done the forgotten errand
rather than seem to be "naggng."
1t does fall to the lot of women to do
most Of the so-called training of chill
dren. In many cases it Is truly the
blind leading the blind, the unframed
training tsTOnif do Is ,.
keep stil''-how easily these phrases
roll off the tongue. Who that has trav-
eled has failed to notice the mother who
magnihed her office of despot by irri-
tating demands and commands, disturb
ing every one within hearing and seeing
by her vain efforts to keep her children
still? She has not learned self control,
and she is transmitting her lack of 1t to
the next generation.
But we are improving, l am sure. We
are learning that to Save ourselves and
our children from "crossness" we must
cultivate calmness. There must be peace
in the soul of the mother before her
babe is born, and then, o, those precious
weeks when she may command such
quiet hours for an acquaintance with the
new life. How foolish she Is who thu ows
away that sacred opportunity choosing
rather than to retreat for time from
the world and be led by her little child
into the holy of hoies. Life would be
very different in many homes If the babe
were thus introduced to II. And 1t Is
not so impossible as 1t may seem. Re
member that these quiet days may save
you and your children months of an
guish. And later, how much can be done
to avoid this perpetual ''nagging" If the
sympathies of the husband and the chill
dren can be enlisted in the object to be
attained. Baby will enjoy making the
room tidy for papa's home coming If she
is doing 1t with mamma, and habit of
order viii be established much more cer-
tainly when she acts under the impulse |,
of sympathy than when under the pres
sure of authority. 1t is a mistake, too, /
to think that true obedience is to be en-
forced only by external authority. The /
parent or teacher who is continually !
commanding is sure to be continually dis, |
obeyed.-Mrs. Lyman Abbott in the La
dies Home Journal.