The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1897-03-04


the tropical islands where all things
grow in profusiOn and almost without
labor on the part of man, and you
tind-w hat? Men and women too
lazy to exert themselves and therefore
amounting to almost nothing as an
influence in the world. But all this
refers to the bodies of men. As to
the mind tell me what moulds the
stolid, plodding, stupid ways of the
Russian Mouiih? His surroundings.
The self-reliance of the Englishman?
Surroundings.
~
Come another step, Though you
are neither Fuegans nor South Sea
Islanders, MOuiiks nor Britishers. but
just plain Americans, you cannot es-
cape the influence of environment
any more than clam can escape
from the sea. These laws are at work
here as well as everywhere else and
you admit it in your general CONVEX
satiOn. You will say What a poor
chance Tom has; he is being raised
among dirt and neglect You think
of surroundings being of influence.
just as you probably think of death;
something that is absolutely certain
for everybody else, but only dreamily
certain Tor you. Herein are we slow
of heart; we fail to recognize that we
are in the world as genuine, actual
part of it. and that the laws infuenc-
ing it are the laws influencing us. 1t
is in this direction | rambe this week,
still continuing the thoughts on Edu-
cation that have gone before.
-
BY Natures kind arrangement we
are not brought forth hundreds at a
time III a hive from one common
queen bee, but in small, very small,
groups whereby each individual in
the family may secure the care neces-
sary for a creature so feeble at birth
and yet so potent in possibilities. To
bring before your vision the lamenta-
BILE results where the personal touch
is lacking it is only necessary to men
ton the spiritless and monotonous
lives of asylum children. A few chill
dren of varying ages under one au-
thOrity is the normal condition of
things We must therefore even look
upon the teacher of forty or fifty chill
dren as occupying an unnatural posi-
ton that should call for our best sym
pathy and wisest cooperation. 1t is
absolutely unfair to expect her to
counterfeit all influences, home and
street, that work against high mo-
tives and moral attempts.
~
am not deluding myself with the
idea that these words are to enter
only the homes of ease and refine
ment. They are to go into thousands
where it is not always easy to make
both ends meet; where life has posi-
bly, rasping influence upon the over
burdened mother and the overworked
father: where the "quiver-full'' of
children is blessing very thoroughly
disguised. And because such homes
are after all the recruiting place of
American life and future American
progress, ! must be very plain here.
| dare to say from a knowledge of
both ends of society that it is quite as
possible if not more so to find in such
homes the virtues of patience and
perseverance, of self-forgetfulness and
tenderness, of love and unity develop
ing under hard conditions, rather
than under the influence of boundless
wealth and opportunity. So the pow
erty of the home where even the lamp
is dispensed with so as to save expense
is not left out in these suggestions.
-
The main thing is the SPIRIT of
the home. Even if illiterate and
hampered by vices, a parents real
love for the things that or pure and
right will outweigh all things else. If
unwholesome thoughts are purposes
are merely covered with a veneer of
book knowledge and department the
parent can never by mere instruction
outweigh the unconscious evil pull of
his character upon the children sum
mering and wintering with him. !
cannot do better than include a pOr-
ton of a letter just received from a
very pure minded and noble young
doctor. He says in substance: AS l
look back at my home life in early
childhood. / remember my grand
mother always appealed to me by her
gentleness and kindness and personal
cleanliness and attractiveness. Still
| knew quite well that she was lack
ing in firmncss, letting her desire that
everybody should be happy for the
moment overcome her best Judgment.
NY grandfather / respected for his
eyact integrity and preciseness. i