The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-03-23
The Rights of Children.

mothers meeting a short time ago, and
is published not because it is the best
OF the many excellent papers that have
been read at these meetings during the
past months, but it appears in print at
this time because it was easier for the
editors to obtain this d than some
others, and We wished to publish some
thing to give those who do not attend
an idea of the nature OF these meetings:
an these days when We hear much OF
the rights OF the Negro, the Chinese and
the Indian, when gifted writer's are
pleading for the rights Of women and
even Of dumb animals, it seems strange
that We 30 seldom hear a word in behalf
Of the rights Of children. In the few
moments allotted to me this afternoon,
/ would like to mention q few OF the
rights that I believe r due to every
child; and whatever is the child's right,
1t is the parents duty to furnish. As
the child has q right to support and
projection, so it is the parents duty to
see that the child is not deprived OF
these rights. The first right OF every
child is the right to be we'll born, by
which I do not mean that he should be
born into a wealthy or cultured home,
but that his parents ought to be OF good
health physically, morally and intellect
ually that the child may inherit neither
disease, vice, nor a feeble mind, but come
into the world sound in all his faculties,
with no unnatural bent toward evil OF
whatsoever sort. The child also has q
right to be a welcome child. Because
the mother was averse to his coming,
many q child goes through life with an
unhappy disposition, miserable himself
and making uncomfortable whoever
may chance to be near him. The right
OF a child to be wholesomely fed and
comfortably clothed is probably never
Intentionally denied to him, but owing
to the ignorance Of pareLts, even q we'll
born, welcome child is often given indi-
gestible food, which causes much suffer
ing to the little one, while bis body is
oftimes clothed more with reference to
gratifying the pride and vanity Of the
mother, than thought to make the child
comfortable. / have often wondered to
see a mother who will cheerfully sacri.
fee any amount of time and personal
enjoyment in order to amuse and give
pleasure to her little daughter, clothe
he little girl just learning to walk in a
ong flowing gown which causes the lit
le one many an unnecessary fall. Why
oes not every mother refuse to adopt a
lyle OF dress for her child which must
rake the little one uncomfortable?
"The chllo also has = right to be loved,
I'D to be told that he is loved. In
any families where loving words and
.resses are abundantly lavished on the
he in arms, the older children scarcely
or receive any expression OF their pa
nts' love for them. The child has q
int to a happy home and to pleasant
me surroundings, 80 that no matter
at trouble may dim the enjoyment OF
or years, he may always he able to re.
70 in the memory Of q happy child
ID. The child has a right to have
te place about the home which Is bis
yown where he can keep the treas.
/, gathered from field or forest, just
est suits his fancy. He has a right
is own playthings, books and cloth
and one child should not take the
q OF another without permission
the owner thereof. Thus they will
to respect the property rights Of
9. The child has the right to the
snionship Of his parents, ct the
a. well a. the mother. It seems
~tamentable that 90 many American
f. are engrossed in business to such
cent that they give no time to their
en.
child has . right to be taught to