The evening times., 1899-04-06
Iareutal AHectiOna.

Mr. Gerry famous for his operations in
| connection with the society which bears
his name. and also as part owner Of hotel
| which lately proved TO be firetrap. Is
| making himself conspicuous just now in
| New York He wishes to have authority
over the children of others in even larger
| measure than he has had it up to this time.
This request OF his has made something of
disturbance and seems TO be generally
disapproved. Among the protests thereby
called forth is a declaration by Jealous
champion OF natural rights that no man on
earth. no court save the highest. should
have the power TO deprive a mother of her
child.
Mr. Gerry at any rate, should not be
trusted Internationally with that power.
Most people who have observed his opera
tions will agree on that point. In many
cases his interierences have worked in
calculabe harm all around-to the parents,
to the children. and TO the community
which paid the expenses of the operation.
But while so delicate and difficult matter
as the mana cement of little children should
be interfered with by court only when
there is proof of ill-treatment there is
something TO be said about this theory
that q mother is always and forever the
best and wisest manager of child.
The work of mother-the right kind OF
mothers the holiest, most beautiful
thing on earth. and there are no words
quite worthy TO express what children feel
for the parent who has performed this task
as true and wise woman should. She
may have made mistakes, but her instincts
and her love have averted in most cases,
the consequences of the mistake. Little
children instinctively feel that she is their
best friend and il may be added that there
are women who have never been mothers
in whom this womanly wisdom is so devel-
oped that they are beloved by all the chill
dren in the neighborhood, and often take up
from pure unselfish love the task of caring
for some orphaned or neglected little ones
who would otherwise grow up without the
priceless memories of childhood. The world
would rot be as good a place as it is if
there were not many of these women who
are fitted by nature and instinct for the
task of caring for little children and for
the making of a home. with all the shelter,
warmth, and privilege that that word i'm
plies.
But there are women who have no busi-
ness to attempt 10 bring up child at all,
and owing to the way in which society is
organized these women are quite as likely
to have this task forced upon them. or to
accept it in ignorance. They may have
sort Of blind passion which they and others
may call mother love, but 1t Is nothing of
the sort and does the child as much harm
as good, in nine cases out OF ten. These
are the women whO treat their children
like pet animals. caressing them one min
ute, furnishing them the next when some
act of the child interferes with their whim
or mood. They either bewilder the baby
mind that it grows sullenly incapable Of
distinguishing right from wrong or de-
velop in it a sharp. unchildish faculty of
Judging human nature. The child OF such a
mother learns very soon to ask for a thing
when mamma is in good humor," or to
dodge punishment by lie or smart an
swer. What kind of mother influence is
that?
What sort of mothers are those who pur-
sue the policy of making the child feel as
il it were born criminal-who never give |
a word of praise except on the rarest oc-
casions. who exact obedience without ex-
planning the necessity, and punish mis- |
take as il ii were crime? Who subject |
the child to irritating comments on its |
looks and manners. to personal fnterfer- |
ence which any grown person would resent |
most bitterly" Who even allow the children |
to see that one is preferred above another?