Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-10-20
STUDY FOR MOTHERS
MRS. THEODORE slRNEY'S TALK ON
THE REARING OF CHILDREN.
How Environment Forms Character.
A Mothers Love Must De supple
mcnted by Knowledge - Teaching
JOhnnic's Father.

Mrs. Theodore Birncy, president of the
National Congress of Mothers, made a talk
before the Woman's club of Atlanta re-
Gently. She explained tho necessary
strength that would DO derived among
mothers by their meeting to discuss their
mutual interests, and by their study of
child life. Tho fact that the mother love
and mother instinct is by no means all
that is necessary In the development Of
child life was clearly brought out, as well
as the face that no two children are alike
and consequently are not susceptible to
the same methods of development. In the
matter of hereditary effects Mrs Birnoy
referred to the arguments brought out by
all students of child life that no matter
what might he the evil effects of hercdity
they might be partially If not altogether
eradicatcd by placing the child within the
right environment and under tho dircc-
ton of person who, understanding child
life, would accomplish in the subject de-
volopment In tho proper lines. Proofs were
given of this in the success of the Chill
drcn's Mutual Aid Society of New York,
where children were brought, most evil
dent subjects Of hereditary evils, but un-
der proper environments and training be-
came good men and women. The elements
of their highest nature were so developed
as to overcome tho weaknesses for which
they were not accountable, and ms moral
beings they could stand the test with those
In whom too much reliance had been
placed upon Inherent goodness, and who
might not be protected against environ.
ment or who suffered the lack of intclli-
gent training.
In tho oft repeated statement that the
mothers of the past could not DO improved
upon Mrs. Birney heartily acquicsced, but
reasoned rs there was progress in all
modes and methods tending to the better
munt of humankind there was no reason
why progress should not be made in tho
methods of that greatest of all works, the
proper development of children.
People prepare themselves for all the
vacations OF life" she snid, land why
should not the women who arc mothers
mako every effort to acquire that knowl-
edge that Is necessary in performing the
shcrcd duties of motherhood that dcvolvo
upon them In the proper training of the
child> a mother may love her child with
the purcst intensity of her nature and yet
BE- absolutely ignorant of that knowledge
necessary to rear properly the child"
The 'child study" upon which the Ma
tional Congress of Mothers base their prin-
ciplcs Of organization Is really that en-
bodied in the Frocbol philosophy of child
life and is that which is becoming every
day the clearly recognized bnsis of modern
education 1t is the study that brings I'm
close relation tho mother and the child's
teacher with the individuality Of tho
child, and Mrs. Birney expressed it rs her
opinion that no young woman's education
was complete unless in tho course of its
finish she were properly instructed in
child study and thus prepared for the more
serious duties of II woman's life,
In illustrating practically what knowl-
edge Of child study meant, Mrs. Birncy
cited the incident of very busy man
homcward bound on his wheel coming in
collision with another and falling heavily
to the ground. He sustained severe in
juricS and was compelled to remain at
homo for some time In u reclining position.
A lady friend or progressive ideas was
calling upon him. and in discussing tho
accident he said: lit would not have been
so bad il it all hadn't come upon mo so
suddenly, and l simply had no means Of
saving myself. Thon, too, it came ut
such an inopportuue time for my bust
ness" About that time the clock struck
9and the gentleman noticed that his young
son was still playing in the room regard
less of bedtime. eco to bed, Johnnie, p"
said the father. II don't want to- yet, F"
replied the son.
Then nurse was called, and Johnnie still
insisted he didn't want to 90 to bed
Take him, anyway" said the father,
whcrcupon Johnnie kicked and howlcd
according to the usual fashion, and his ia
thor likewise according to the usual fash
! ion) spanked at him as well as he could
from his position on the sofa.
/ Now, there are great many people who
will remark that all this WAS u perfectly
reasonable domestic incident. Johnnie S
father shared that opinion till the pro-
| grcssivc lady told him he had not treated
the little fellow right
Bat he was only playing" argued the
| father. "Hc disohcycd me, and-I GER
tainly could not let him play there all
night
THAT Is very true, said the lady, "but
did you consider the earncstncss of tho
child, and that it was not play to him.
| He had grocery store arranged in ono
| corner OF the room, u telephone stretched
| between two chairs in the other, and n lit
tie train of cars improvised upon which hp
was engineer delivering goods, Mrs,
Somebody had just telephoned him for
| some groceries, and he was about TO de-
| liver them when his business was sudden
| ly broken into He was not only incon-
siderately interrupted, but he was rs no
| felt, ANONYMOUSLY treated, and, worst of
| all, felt your anger as he was carried away.
just place yourself in his position and re-
allie that grocery business between two
| chairs was Just as serious to him when
your order to go to bed came upon him as
WAS your business, when 1t was suddenly
interrupted by your falling from your
wheel ard your being confined to the
house now. You, however, know your
business is being preserved intact, while
your sobbing baby in the next room knew
that he would never see that grocery store
and telephone and improviscd train again.
ut would have been just as easy for
you" continued the lady, ''to have inves'
tigatcd the play before issuing tho order
to 20 to bed. Then you might have said
! Mr.. Grocer, it's time now to break up
store and let the clerk go home. That en-
gineer ought To be tired, and those other
orders can wait till morning. ! will give
you some other orders in the morning, and
gradually the child's mind could have
been distracted, He would have given NJ
his play to listen and might have been
sent to bed with smiles and II good night
kiss I"
Tho story, of course, had tho happy end
ing of II ropentant father kissing the teal
stained check of % sleeping, still sobbing
baby, and the next time Johnnics bust
EosS was not broken into In the same
way Atlanta Constitution.