The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1901-05-09
Kenosha WOman's Club Holds an IN
teresting Session at the Library
Wednesday Afternoon.
MRS. ROBLEE ON CHILD CULTURE
Interesting Discussion Follows an Inter
esting Paper on Practical subje cts
Annual Meeting on May 18th.

The Woman's club held its annual
open meeting Wednesday afternoon in
the assembly room in the library
building. A large number of invited
guests were present and the occasion
proved a most enjoyable one. The
club room was decorated with pink
roses and presented a very charming
appearance.
After the usual preliminary business
had been transacted the president an
nounced that the annual meeting OF
the club would occur on Saturday,
Nav II, at which time reports would
be presented by the various officers and
the general business of the club trans
acted. Those present then listened to
a most interesting and instructive pa
per by Mrs. Roblee on the subject:
GLOW shall the Moral Sense Be De
ve1oped in the Child
Mrs. Roblee touched in turn upon
the mental, moral and physical train
ing and development of the child. She
began by considering the prenatal
influences which surround the child
before it's birth and the Importance
which should be attached to them, but
too often is not. Heredity furnishes
striking examples of traits transmitted,
not always from the parents alone, but
from many preceding generat1ons-so
that each child is not only himself, but
also combines the traits of many OF his
progenitors. The vexed question has
often been discussed never fully
answered-as to whether heredlty or
environment is the more responsible
for the chi1d's true nature. The 1nt1u-
ences of heredity are so far reaching
having their beginning IN the charac-
teristic traits, perhaps, of the ch1ld's
remote ancestry; and the influences OF
environment are so marked, surround
ing the child at the most formative
neriod of his existence-that it is diff
cu1t TO decide between them. Il1ustra-
ticns were given showing the parts
n1aved nv both heredity and environ
ment in the chi1d's development.
Mrs. Rob1ee also discussed the form
ative influence of the parents them
selves, their characters and examples
irrespective of the influences OF hereo-
itv. It is all important that parents
should live up, in the least details, to
the standard set by them for their
children, and the force of example is
not to be over estimated. The educa-
ton of the child should tend entirely
toward the development of the ethical
side of his nature. So far as possible
the influences of heredity, environ
ment and training should all be exerted
with this end in view.
Mrs. Rob1ee's paper covered the
ground thoroughly and gave evidence
of the thought and consideration de-
voted to it. It was thoroughly enjoyed
by the appreciative listeners.
Following the reading of the paper
came a discussion led by Mrs. A. B.
Curtis. At this time the argument on
the respective influences of heredity
and environment was taken up and
handled in most interesting manner,
each side of the question having many
adherents. Among the other topics
discussed were those of the parents
influence and example, the standards
to be held up for the children and the
proper literature for children and its
influence on their early lives. The
question of religious training also re-
ceived much attention and the 'proper
method of presenting 1T.
After the discussion the meeting was
ad iourned and the discussion of these
questions continued informally over
the social cup of tea.