The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1898-01-13
CHILDREN. NOW
HND'YEARS AGO
The Up-to-Date Young Ones
Entirely Too Pfecocious.
Find No Pleasure in simple Amuse-
ments and Bold Arguments
with Their Elders.

OldfashiOned children are almost obso-
lcte. Occasionally bhe appears. an isoiat :
ed example of the real leauties of child
hood. The chnd OF these latter days Of
ferS 10 this shy. unasSuiins little cres-
iure a contrast 50 startling a. to he abso-
utelr repugnant. n,'
/, for one. have AZ earthly use for up-
to-aate children. says Dorothy MaddoN>i in
the Philadelphia Inquirer. The girls,
especially, suffer. FOR uis forcing process.
Must uld the Old-faShIoned child nave TO
uo VITA worldly ananse He was shielded
with care prompted by extreme solici-
tnde frotn all matters pertaining to un-
gUuly people and their cOncerDS.
1 SHOULD ike 10 have seen the look of
inter conformation once upon a time
on The faces OF those members OF a family
IN which mere slip Of a gri was shel-
tered, had ne youngSter of the house at
tempted 10 have IDEAS"
They would have considered the little
one Possessed of a devii. The charm
OF childhood rs sacrificed. al the present
period 10 dress. 10 auHseucntS, to friv-
ulItles winch once were deemed proper
only Tor full-neaged so,pg women To
participate ina. kven these pleasures were
laken ia an ent reTr different spirit nom
thai shown by tie s1sIht v .irl OF TO-DAY.
Occurrences stamped every move.
There are thoSs wsY3,"clai!T for he pra>-
ent culture pose that in the generations
10 come we VIII have SeIf-raliaIt women.
the prouucts Of an age in which children
are pushed INTO maturity of thought re-
fore they are oct of the kindergarten. 1t
is qnrScfoIrs-fea -
The boys arg. all Iigl1. Their athletic
sports save them from degeneraCy. The
girls -alfd mere! Uf course. we must bunch
then. are in Danger OF beingruined. Where
viii you lind a really modest. unaffected
iittls girl? There is an aggressiveness
about nivdern ysgIng.teLs u. petticoats that
- appalling. Parents are responsible for
such a state OF things.
Girls. mere babies, are allowed 10 dictate
10 their mothers in matters OF the wardrobe.
l Sa~ ON atom of five dressed the other
day and 1T took a maid aud three relatives
t. get her in her clothes. After the trying
ordeal tWa ssSEep the InStber actua lily said
with triumphant smile, Won't that child
make people stand around when She gets
10 be a woman NothiHg VIII be good
enough for her.
hear children dispute their parents
before strangers with a harjiihUUd that
makes me vince. hear mothers with
years % experience 70 their account de
rerTiRg 10 tots ia pinafores.
Nevada W children are showed under oue,s
very hose'fof adhiirstidn. ftratuatedn,oth-
ers allow theIg T. I,ase ~ .skirt da ncer>: they
have their luncheons, theit box parties
and their afternoon ear t5ities, = where here
are Lights and flowers and music and the
artificial atmosphere OF society IN niinia turc
The old1s s1nhfted 7cfnlef used to de
hight IN candy pun aud regarded a
bubble party a. rare treat. new
ia shione d child. up in all the latest
dancing school quirkS isn't content with I
such primitive amusenentS. she wants to
be % lie in her small world. she is as keen
alter admiration as n She had passed
through her ffrss sea Son5- BY the way.
isn I II something. Of a question, Just when
The ir>t season Of the average Gebu- I
tante begins. It Is Supposed to have it's
tart-pff when she takes her stand beside
leF mother and formally shakes hands 4
with lot OF people who are expected +.
To give her social boost, 80 to speak
But long. long before this She has
had many and varied opportunities of .
seeing what the big world j. like. 50
much 81 rhat a. a cons enrlonaI ,.iud..
IN Willie tule She could give pointers to
the most worldly wise of cha perones
Some Of the knowledge she has gain
q d may he excellent, bat S2Iuc alas. would
elcctufy the grand dame OF half a cen
tury ago.
In justice TO the ultra -fashiouahleS. they
ma be said 10 represent the most sensible
mothers. They throw about their tauch-
tiers mantle OF seclusion which is not
removed until the girls are entirely ema nci
pated from the schoolroon. II is the
mothers found or two lower down the
Ia CIDER who are striving "a give their
Children social start before they have
pasSed their lisping days.
And some would avow tina, this purturas
self -relia nce2 No. Self-cousciousneSs. EMO
iiStn, artificiality, that is but a moor
equipment for the coming bachelor girl.
wife or mother.
MISSTEP IN A nkN.E