The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-10-29
fear for tie Dark.
Nervous Children should Not BE rid
icul'd. But Treated WiscS.


Nervous Children should Not BE Rid
icuI'd. But Treated Wise'y.
Il is so natural TO laugh at the strange
imaginings OF children. and to ridicule
their fear OF the dark: but mothers
should realize that this Is a matter need
iug serious consideration There is
great difference In chi dren Of course;
some are naturally nervous and timld.
while others show very little hes.tanoy
about going 20 bed alone in dark room
If they have had wise training from oa-
byhood. But with the majority Of chill
dren the great bugbear in their lives Is
this fear of the dark. says the PhiIadel-
mia Record Little folks as brave az
lions when the sun shines become arrant
towards when rooms grow shadowy and
strange forms loom mp I'm dusky corners.
AS the years 20 on this fear keeDs pace
with their growth, and even when ma
turity is reached they still dread uniight-
81 apartments with an overpoWerinG
fear the secret Of which they cannot
even tel 10 themselves.
This terror that is actually a species
Of real misery. can often be traced either
directly or indirectly to the weird tales
told by nurses to their small charges or
the threats of dangers that lurk i'm dark
rooms If child is naughty or d'sobedient
1.-THE big dark" becomes an ogre ready TO
eat them up. and twilight seems a steal
thv foul Lend sulking I'm their wake
with an sorts Of mysterious devices with
which TO brighten and 10 punish them
Many grown persons cannot sleep in n
room unless a dim light Is burning They
do not acknowledge that Il is fear OF the
dark that makes the faint glimmer ne
cosearv adjunct OF peaceful repCse. yet
such is the case: and II they were 20 tell
the occasion for such a fear 10 could be
siftcd down 20 the root OF the matter and
the bupaboo stories Of childhood held re-
sp0nsible
Strange rs 81 may appear 81 is the
children themselves who actually revel
I'm the tales OF eh0stly visitatons clank-
ing chains fiery eyes and similar at
fractions that make them shudder. vet
which have such a weird fascination for
them that the person possessed Of stock
OF such legends IS I'm most demand Not
withsfandlng this morbid taste. parents
should look 20 &c that the mental appe-
tite of their children is not Dandered to
by stories that. while they are fascinat-
inelv horrible at the time, leave impress
sions on heart and mind that tend 10
weaken the moral character, as well as
causing them an hour Of actual misery in
days to come
When a child begins to exhibit an unac-
cOuntable fear Of the dark try soothing
1T TO sleep with a song in a darkened
room. and the habit may be formed from
early babyhood OF putting the child 20
bed I'm the darll-if everything is in read
mess before the baby is taken TO the
room. and the light then put out and the
little one is taken into the room and
tucked into bed in the dark, and the mo-
Their or nurse remains to sing the little
one 70 sleep without rocking. But If
child IS rocked TO sleep each night in
lighted room until IL grows out of baby
hood. and rs then evnected 20 form entire
ly new habits Il Will be actual cruelty 20
expect e 20 20 boldly into the dark room
alone each night and fall asleep In the
nifsf o. fearful irnaginings that the mere
contrast from light 20 darkness is sure
to form. even without the assistance or
rhos,ly tales Early training and patient
help 10 overcome morbid nervousness VIII
he'n the tim'd children 10 overcome This
chid's1 fear. which might otherwise de-
velop into actual cOwardice later In life.