St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1900-03-21
The Problem of Tidiness.


Has the average small boy or girl an
Unborn love of dirt and disorder? Was
there ever naturally clean tidy child?
The answer to these queries will prob
ably vary. There are just enough dirt
hating infants born into the world to
prevent unanimous assent to the first
question. In opposition to the general
chorus OF affirmation would arise half a
dozen mothers to instance this boy who
from babyhood always cried when his
hands were dirty, and that other who
was never happy when his toys were in
disorder. In spite of these shining lights
of the nursery, the fact remains that, as
rule, the childish mind is enmity against
soap and neatness. The reason of this is
not easy to find.
l know one small boy who declares
cheerfully that he likes to be dirty. When
asked why, there is some difficulty in get
ting definite answer. The first reply
comes promptly.
1T is so much trouble to wash"
When the matter is pressed as to why
he dislikes to be washed, he becomes hazy
and the only satisfaction to be obtained
must be found in his final conclusion:
90 / just don't like it'll"
He is thoroughly consistent. Volun-
tarily he would never touch soup and
water. The fact that his hands are
brown with dirt does not affect his appe-
tite, and he is happy in the midst of a
chaos of books, toys and clothes. Of his
own will he would never put one in the
proper place.
His brother, less brilliant child, per-
haps is another type. He never objects
to washing, unless it interferes with more
interesting occupation, although he, too,
like his senior, would placidly eat meal
with decidedly unwashen hands and face.
He has spasms of neatness, during which
be keeps his nursery preternaturally tidy.
His cloths are always hung in the same
place at night, while the older boys are
flung in all directions.
when did your daughters learn to be
tidy?" | asked of the mother of two
grown girls.
mot until they went to college. Until
then their rooms would always have
been in disorder, their persons untidy, if
| had not followed them up" She sank
her voice to whisper. "Up to the time
they left home l actually had to wash
their ears for them Now they carry
Tubing to an extreme"
II was the dirtiest child in the world
until was about fourteen" says a wo.
man whose hobby is frequent baths.
Then / suddenly made up my mind to
be clean"
"My boy was never tidy until be was
old enough to call on the girls" says an
other mother. Then he became so dan
di6ed that it was absolutely painful"
The hope of such futures helps sustain
the mother in the problem that now
taxes her patience sorely. Yet she cam
not let her children be of the great un.
washed indefinitely. Even against their
will she must oblige them to follow
habits of comparative neatness, to take
not only regular baths, but to wash be-
fore meals and keep their books, toys
and clothes in order. II need be, she
should enforce her commands by penal
ties, small but sure.
The child who knows he will have no
dessert if he comes to the table with
soiled hands or unbrushed hair, who is
aware that conhscation awaits the book
or toy he leaves out of place. may yield
a grudging neatness. but even this is
better than none. Small rewards for
continued cleanliness or order are also
excellent.
The mother should not allow herself
to be discouraged to the extent of yeild-
ing her point. The children may fret
against the law compelling them to per-
form regular additions, to brush and put
away their nice clothes when they take
them off, to keep bookshelves, desk and
toy closet in order, but after while the
action will become habit. To secure
the peaceable fruits of righteousness in
any line one must not only SOW seed, but
also plow and harrow.
CHRISTINE 1'ERHUNE HERR1cK.
-lCongregationaist.