The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1895-04-10
THE MANNERS OF PARENTS.

We hear a good deal about the be-
havior of children in these days, and
these remarks are often the reverse OF
complimentary, says Eleanor A. Hunt
er in the Cincinnati Commercial Gazette,
but no one as yet has seemed to serious
ly considered the manners OF grown
people in relation 10 children. though
nowhere is she law of cause and effect
more clearly manifested. II the parents
are habitually courteous to their emil
dren the children always have pleasant
manners II they are rude so are the
children. They reflect the of
their elders as a mirror does the objects
by which it il surrounded. Many pa
rents, who are well-bred in their man
ners TO their equals, never tronble them
selves to be c%onsidetate in their manners
to their own children. Indeed, there are
parents who actually seem to think that
it is not well to he courteous to a child.
"Say Thank YOU" heard a mother
command u little daughter when she
tied a sash for her.
"You never say Thank you to me-
returned the child instantly.
ut is not my place to say THANK you
to you You are my child, and it is
your duty to do whatever l ORDER" re-
sponded the mother.
The child quietly walked from the
room with firm shut lips and flashing
eyes, and the mother never noticed that
her command had o been obeyed.
How often do we command when We
should request!
pass the bread" y
"Shut the door"
Go up stairs and get me a clean hand
kerchief-quick."
The hateful sentences throng upon
my memory faster than my pen can
write them. How can we expect chill
dren to have serene and gentle manners
when they are treated like this?
Then again, in some families, children
are ignored. They come down to the
breakfast room and take their places al
the table without any morning greeting
whatever. When school time comes
they are put in order by their mother
and dismissed with a ''There you are
ready at last. Go along" No wonder
such children are shy and awkard when
some stranger chances to give them a
cheerful greeting.
When company comes, how many
children are told to 'keep out OF the
way'-"to keep still and not say any
thing" in the presence Of guests. 1t is
@ strange that the little things ac,
like scared kittens under such circum.
stances. 1t is remarkable to me that
they appear as we'll as they do.
| once knew n lady whose son, a little
lad of ten, was the admiration of every
n for his beautiful While
he was perfectly simple, frank and boy
ish, his manners were as assured and
correct as those of a grown man. His
mother could send him in the carriage
alone to the station to bring a lady guest
iro.n the train, certain that he would
give her every neediul attention. He
would take the checks, care Tor the bag
gage, and bring her to the house with
every courtesy. And always when visi-
tors were at home he did HE little
share of entertaining them. He was
quick to wait upon them, to show them
every respect, and though he was not
forward, he was quite ready to converse
with them if they seemed so inclined.
"How did you manage it? What
course of training did you pursue ?"
people used to inquire.
"Well," | heard his mother answer at
n time, "for one thing I never snub-
bed him. He has no idea that there are
people in the world who do not like
bows. He supposes that everybody is
as friendly as he himself. Then | have
brought him up to take care of me and
be polite to me and l am careful to be
considerable and courteous to him rs
am to his father. So he never has to
put on his good manners; they are the
habit of his life. l think that is about
all there is OF It,"
That WAS all, hut it was a good deal,
and if all parents would pursue the came
courtesy they would have less occasion
to lament their children's rudeness and
Awkwardness.