El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-05

matured confidence, and never eX.
hibited as a means of attraction in the
early stages OF acQuaintsbce. Grown
ups," and especially men, are at q
great disadvantagei in winning the af-
feotions Of children. for the latter are
critical over q wide range, and only
| sppreciative over a narrow one; where
| fore those who seek their regard, and
| ultimately their affection, says a
writer in the London Spectator, have
t, ten chances of making blunder
| which will be remembered against one
OF scoring success of the positive
kind. Thesgres,est mistake of all,
perhaps, is to try to be amusing. An
error in all cases where the speaker
has not got the social measure of his
company, it Is nowhere more coldly Re
ceived than by children, who have in
perfection the art Of being severely
literal when they disapprove Of Joke.
They are intensely sensitive
to being laughed at east
~ interpret what they only
half unde: stand. as ''chaff," and only
like people because they are mice"
and never because they are clever.
They are, as rule, shy of accept
ing services. partly because they do
not like it to be thought that they can
not do things for themselves: and are
vastly careful, if they do. that it shall
not be looked upon as involving a
claim on their regard. When they dis
person is not only friendly but useful,
foundations for solid affection are often
laid. But the benefits conferred must
come impersOnally. And those who
can carry this atmosphere of goodwill
and services as part of themselves, and
inseparable as the shadow under the
tree, find that children unconsciously
gather to them. Then, if they pass in
the final examination which the closer
relations render possible, they may be
rewarded by warm, and even adoring.
devotion, which lasts sometimes be-
yond the time "when stream and river
meet"
Though it often passes away after
childhood, the affection of children for
their elders outside their family circle
has an advantage over that between
maturer friends. Once Won, it is east
ly kept. Little hearts, once unlocked,
eager to see and to add spontaneously
fresh merits to those who have engsg-
ed their love. They are perfectly true,
and distance does not diminish affec-
ton. Surprise and Joy will
almost Overwhelm them when the
object of this uncovenanted affection
reappears suddenly after absence.
perfectly spontaneous, and often most
prettily expressed, and the chances are
in favor of this deep affection having
for it's object some grown-up friend.
and not a child. "It's my beloved
Uncle Toni" exclaimed one little girl,
her face quite flushed with emotion, as
the happy object of this attachment
who will never see fifty again) sud-
denly presents himself to an adoring
little niece.
THE POWER OF THE STORY-TELLER.
Women have an advantage over the
other Sex in the general COM
petition for the liking of
children. They are gentler,
they are more sttractively dressed; and
children are particularly sensitive to
color and texture in dress, hating
things harsh to touch; and women are
much easier to make companions Of
at the start-and do not seem to be
doing it ION purpose Later, linen
friends have perhaps equal chances;
for they are acknowledged to be almost
the best children's story tellers, and
this is a mighty power, potent over
their minds and affections.
For the really gifted
child's story teller, master
of his art, will provide all the mate
rial for their fancy to play with daily
and improve upon. He will create q