Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-01-27
Gully genaebee yanraaI.
-, $50 --
w. G.. t. u. COLUMN,
Scieatific Temperance Instruction.

WIN an iron Stasp. lJ Is surprising To
ehe unsuspecting parents. how early this
tyrant manifests itself in the child. and
~ only overcome by the most persistent
efforts. The necessity Of enlsting this
tyrant on the side oi right, has been made
manifest to all concerned in the welfare
CT the little ones.
The child becomes an imitator lust as
soon as the powers of perception are
developed, and be reprodnces, in minia-
ture, father, mother, brother and sister.
In the reproduction. our faults aud foibles
stare us in the face. 1t behooyps Us to
look well to our ways If we do not want
our children to follow in our footsteps.
How soon the little brain begins its tele-
graphic work, and fingers. feet and voice
respond to its undiscIpllEel force of will.
1t has been said the child is the lcposi-
tory oi infinite possibilities Do we
realize that the future welfare of o,r
nation of the worlds clasped in the
tiny clenchcd fist Of the Row born babe,
sleeping in its mothers loving arms.
Who can measure the strength the power
of true mother love, which reaches out
into the future with prayers ana aspirin
tions for the child entrusted to her care
Who but Il father can comprehend the
fathers JOY and pride as, one by one, the
faculties unfold, and it energies from the
mysterious wordloSs state of habyhood.
and enters into prattliug initiative child
hood? Who can estimate the sorrow, the
anguish, of the father and mother who
see the precious child entering on q life o.
sin and shame, disgrace and misery
caused by the ovcrpowering habit of alec
holisn: No wonder that mothers and
wives have risen i'll desperation TO fight
for husbands and children No wonder
that the Woman's Christian Temperance
Union has eneircltd the earth. No won
der that the cry is save the children
educate them, that they may know the
enemy and resist his power. L
But few years is the child sheltered
in the home nest, then the outside. world
calls 1t forth, where it must meet good
and evil, and some way, gain the .knuyl-
edge that shall enable 1t TO recogSizs and
choose the good. Here comes in tie work
Of our public schools, and the wori, Of he
teacher must supplement tlIas Sef The
parents. Five hours of the il@f. xchool
days Of the week the teacher la4!sS sway
over the unf ,lding reasoning .xfwers; her
wise counsefs and loving -S9tSSsiitions
with the orderly discipline Of aol life
are stamped indeibly upon I'M plastic
child nature. The teacher is a R,ost i'm
portant factor In determining the destiny
of the little ones who lootSS@A, To her as
the embodiment of wsdolh,n never failing
repository of knowledge: equal to the
solution of the oft recurring problems
that perplox the small brain.
The first fifteen years are the most
critical portion of life; during that time
habits are formed that mould the entire
future. With mother and teacher, in "a
great measure, rests the responsibility Of
cultiyating habits of body and mind that
shall equip the child for the battle of life
If bad habits can be prevented during the
school life of Il child the probability Is,
they will never gain f0othold
The prevalence of nervous diseases, the
increase of the opium habit. the immod
crate use of tobacco, the crime. misery
and poverty caused by the drink habit
have been the cause of ii movement to
provide for children instruction in scien-
tific temperance. taken in connections
with physiology and hygiene in the
public schools. Since 1881 all but nine
states In the Union have passed laws
making this d required study. Maine fsll
into line In February. 1855, and in orr
schools, today, children, who are growing
up with this instruction, begin to under
stand why tobacco opium. alcohol and
kindred posons are injurious BY scicn
tific research and proof they learn that
tho only safe course is total abstinence
from that which dwarfs body and soul
distorts conscience, and places men and
women below the level Of the brute
creation. Habits of self control and self
denial are encouraged and insisted upon
the feelings of self respect are cultivated
and a proper appreciation of the rights OF
others These teachings are taking root
and in future years, the fruition will be
Intelligent temperate citizens. among
whom it Will be hard to find those who
will manufacture or sell that which they
know will make criminals and ljaupers
Then the laws on our statute books will
he enforced and Maine will not be pointed
at as the State where prohibition does
not prohibit. "
This is what scientific temperance in
struction in our public schools means.
If we have saved the children today, we
have saved the nation tomorrow. MIS-
f. ". SMIr TIL in Rockland Tribune.