The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-01-15
MOTHERS COLUMN.


cussion was "The use and abuse Of nm
ishment." Able articles were read con.
corning different methods of punish
ment and in the discussion as in the mr.
ticles read corporal punishment was con.
denied as inhuman on tn. part of par
ents and injurious to the child. spirit
ually, morally and physically. A few OF
the thoughts advanced in this regard are
briefly as follows:
The subject of corporal punishment is
usually approached from the moral or
sentimental standpoint, and one might
suppose the arguments on either OF
these grounds would lie strong enough
to paralyze every hand lifted to strike a
child. But the question OF the physical
effect OF blows upon the delicate tissues,
the trembling nerves ard sensitive or
ganism, that is trying under a thousand
~unfavorable conditions to adjust itself
to the hard work of both living and
growing, has yet to be rightly consider
ed. Who does not know the sudden
sense of pain and dizziness, sometimes
even nausea, produced by striking the
elbow against a hard substance? But
what is this in comparison with the pain
OF a dozen or more quick, tingli1g blows
from a heavy hand upon flesh which is.
which must be, as much more sensitive
than ours as are the souls which dwell
In 1t purer than ours? Add to this
physical pain the overwhelming sense Of
terror which only utter helplessness can
feel, the instructive sense of disgrace
and outrage which keeps the older child
stubborn and sllene throughout, and
you have an amount, en- intensity OF
suffering from which even tried nerves
might shrink. Again, who does not
know that violent weeping for even a
short time is sufficient to produce a
feeling Of depression and nervous ey-
haustlon for a whole day? A child
must IN proportion to the length OF time
and violence Of their crying feel this far
more thar We; yet who has not seen IA
poor child receive within an hour or
two OF the first whipping a second one
for some small display of nervous irrita-
biLty which was but an ex expression of it's
spent and worn condition?
Will any physician dare TO say that
the repetition Of this tremendous strain
from h affects OF pain, terror and cry
lng does not make a vast difference ia
the child's physical condition? There
may be, oh, unthlnking parents, crises
in the life Of your child when life and
death may be SO evenly balanced that
the tenth part Of the nervous force spent
IN enduring your hasty punishment
might turn the scale. :
You would no doubt turf with horror
from the account of a Presbyterian
minister who not long age whipped his
three years old child to death for refus-
ing to say his prayers. The little fin
gers were broken. the tender flesh was
bruised and actually mangled: strong
men wept when they looked upon the
little body; and the reverend murderer,
after having been set free on bail was
glad to return and take refuge within
the walls Of his prison to escape sum-
mary punishment at the hands OF an
outraged community. Heartrending as
it is to think for an instant OF the agon-
les which the poor child must have
borne tor some hours after his infant
brain was too bewlldered by terror and
pain to understand what Was required
OF him, it still cannot fail to occur to
deeper reflection that the torture was
short and small 10 comparison with
what the next ten years might have
held for him had he lived. There is a
question whether after all that baby
martyr were not fortunate among his
fellows who live to endure years of pain
aud suffering at the hands OF those who
are their only protectors, and to whom |
their utter helplessness and loving trust
ought 70 appeal III strongest language. /
1t has been demonstrated time without
number that these harsh and cruel
methods are not necessary to obedience, |
and that gentle measures enforced with
loving tirmness are far more conducive |
to the growth Of the physical. moral and
spiritual growth Of child nature. The |
world is more than ever in need OF men !
and women Of strong determination and
.self-control, but how can We expect |
children under constant repression and |
fear to grow into such mar hood and
~womanhood!
The kindergarten has probably been
the greatest factor in demonstrating the
power Of gentle training, and mothers
will do we'll to study it's methods. A
very able article upon this subject was
read at the last meeting and followed by
an interesting discussion concerning
how We might apply these methods TO
our every day problems.
The Mothers club is making q thor
ough study Of Froebel's educational
methods, and 1T the next meeting tie