Middletown transcript., 1898-08-13

parent should feel it
a duty to encourage, but as reward for so
much work done, and as rest from work
done, as though play were not itself form
/ of work-a form OF work which child
likes, while he dislikes another form be-
cause it is untitled to his powers. For chill
dren under years of age all teaching
should be through play. Through play let
ters and languages can be taught, animal life
can be classified and the surface Of the
earth made clear, and history can be told
as story. Under such system the child
grows into knowledge, learns WELL eats,
sleeps and plays we'll and acquires the habit
Of happiness.
But there are schools where children of
5. 8 and 10 years of age, or, it may be,
younger, are made to study from 8 o'clock
till noon, and again, after hasty meal and
an hour for play, from to 5. and later on
are obliged to prepare lessons for the fol-
lowing morning. The action of the brain
| is diverted from its natural course. The
child becomes precocious. It's tongue will
be furred or covered with many red points
like strawberry, or will be too red and
very dry. The appetite is capricious; strange
foods are asked for. and the stomach is
never i'll order. fyou watch the face, you
note that the frequent flush gives way to
paleness. The eyes CLEAN with light at
one time and are dull and sad at another.
The sleep is broken. The child is a victim
to the wrong kind of education.-N. Y.
Ledger.
THE SAVING OF STEPS.
A very little story with very big moral
has just come to my notice. 1t was told at
a gathering of housekeepers who were con.
sideriug the Saving Of steps" and l hasten
to pass on it while there is still time for it
| to bring comfort for warm weather house
keeping.
The story was of a wise Chinese woman
who raised her family to rank and wealth
| by her wisdom. One of her rules was that
| they should meyer go to or from work in
the fields empty handed. Going from the
house they took garbage, ashes and some
thing else, which, a nuisance near the
dwelling. served as fertilizers further afield.
Coming back they brought sticks for fuel
or stones for walls, and thus cleared the
fields while they provided for the house.
The principle is wise one, and many
trip up and down stairs might be saved by
its adoption in the home.-Phila. Press.
STRATEGY IN THE HOME.
When he had made Sunday afternoon
call at his friends on Hancock avenue the
two walked down The street together
"Now, Tom," said the visitor to his host,
explain yourself. What did you mean by
telling US how sorry you were that you
were not in Cuba fighting. I was just going
to break in and recall how you had told me
half a dozen times that you wouldn't go
there if they gave you the island, and that
| if there ever came the serious prospect Of a
draft you would strike out to make your
fortune in the Klondyke. You winked just
in time, old man."
Little game Of my own, and don't you
give it away. Between you and me, my
wife has always been pretty nearly absolute
| in her domestic reign. 1t took good deal
| of coaxing to get night out at the club
and on more than one occasion coaxed in
vain. IfTd been fishing or had mud on
my shoes l had to 20 in the back way.
Once in while when wanted to have
friend to dinner she would put in veto,
and during siege of house-cleaning, sew
ing, fruit canning or anything like that, l
was put on short rations and had to let on
enjoyed it.
"As soon as there was call for troops
| pretended the greatest anxiety to enlist.
My wife said No. but hypocritically inti-
mated that there were worse things than
war and that she was not my conscience
keeper when it came to matter of patri-
otic duty. Then she changed her tactics
anG nothing is too good for me. I live on
the fat of the land. I can smoke my pipe
in the parlor, 60 to the club when want
to, entertain the fellows at my will: do as
please, and IL yer kick. But shudder
to think viii; would come off if she found
me out. DON'T know but would enlist
then"
Gain your brothers confidence, my dear
| girl, else you will have no influence over
him" writes Ruth Ashmore, of "A Sisters
Influence Over Her Brother" in the Au-
! gust Ladies' Home Journal Force your
self to be interested in whatever he tells
you. Let no escort be as charming to you
as he is. Make him find pleasure in the
same society that you do, and if for some
reason he finds it tiresome, then arrange to
go in another set. but always good one,
which he will appreciate aud in which he
will be appreciated. If you have any ac-
complishment, urge your brother to be a
student with you. Ifyou are good pian-
ist never refuse to-play the tune he likes,
4 and ifyou can induce him to take up the
violin or mandolin, or even the banjo, SO
much the better for then you two may be
companions in melody as in life. Never
forget how much man, and especially a
young man, likes to be remembered. The
tiny token on his birthday, the remem-
brance on the holiday, the little letter Of
congratulation sent when he has succeeded
either in his studies or in the business
world-none of the small pleasures of life
are wasted on brother. A brother is very
often the reproduction Of his sister. It Is
as If he were mirror into which when the