Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-08-24
THE uARpSHIPS OF BEING \
CHILD.


CHILD.
wish to offer a protest against the
erine OF a widespread and mistaken
,rv which is implicitly respected
believed in by countless sensible
thoughtful people who are quite
ng enough to know better.
his theory is that Childhood IS the
bappv. careless and altogether Joy
reriod Of our existence.
am here to stand fer truth and to
Darage misleading passages from
try and philo sophie meditation aho
,nirahlc prose. do not wish I" cen
rc. but to turn the clear anu "rafth-
light OF truth upon the manifold
,sions from celebrated pens. regard
' thc charm and poetry of childhood.
rhe theme of childhood has III
riablv been dealt with in wide ana
neral way. in inper2onli. ob)ocuNc
Vie which has proved most effective
! literary work. writers nave triiie"
ith if as a simile for joy and freedom.
I'd coniured with it. to call up images
sparkling rlyu!ots, Of flowers aho
,ring.
Glad. iovful. careless childhood.
1cy eXclaim, or in an ecstasy cry
1t. 'as happy as child.
can only implore those WI" are
mpted to let their fondness for poeti-
II ideas quite run away with their
cod commonSCnSe to pause While
I'D soberlv consult their personal
>collcctions Of their own childish eN-
4riences. Let them stop considering
70 subject of Childhood in general ana
Urn their wandering attention toward
ralyling individual specimens.
When they have done so. they VIII
.Ipport me in my statements instead
being shocked at the rank hcrciy /
ave suggested.
Although undoubtedly grown Up. l
n not vet so far removed from mat
inevitable state which We call child
BOD as to have in the least forgotten
trials and tribulations. nor Is my
emory so poor that | fail to recall its
,anifold perplexitieG and woes and its
D. ID helpIessness against the inevitable
spelling of all its pet Illusions.
1t IS no laughing matter when santa
IauS turns out to be no longer won
rful inhahitant of splendid ice
,3Iace near the north pole. and sud
only resolves himself into a patched
70 parsonage done up in furS who
juldn't. if he tried. climb down a
.ngle chimney. and never drove q
1indeer in his life.
Nor is it any slight occurrence when
ne learns for the first time that
rownieS are but make believe, and
nat the elves and fairies viii never
ance upon the green at midnight, or
aft one rare good fortune by touch
q light magic wand. 1t is hard and
tier to believe that sweet Red Riding
God was never really eaten by any
.uel wolf. and that Aladdin might
ave rubbed all day upon rusty
mp without once summoning single
lave or genie.
| believe it very doubtful if the loss
fame or fortune or friends in after
ears can ever prove as deep and as
merely mourncd a loss as Cinder-
Has priceless pair of small glass slip
erS.
1t is but little wonder that most of us
re able to survive the sorrows and de-
.rivations of after life. when we have
Undergone the losses and disappoint-
cents of childhood.
.Urao b.nnv ca,eIoss chi,dhond'''
~ nc consider il
u-;r-+ :, tba ,;,o of frc.l,,, c,,re,,,
any term has been grossly misap
lied to childhood, it is the term
free"
If if is freedom to be led about by a
rhite-aproned being, and to be dashed
fter and brought screaming back AZ
ach endeavor at individual indcp"nd-
nee, then early childhood is most
lessed with freedom
If it is freedom at q later stage to be
prever at the beck and cali of Older
eople, who can INSIST upon your dolnE
nythlng they please, ana who car
~ exactly what they IKE Wlthou'
our having any privilege ~ answer
ack. II 1t IS freedom To be hedCed II
bon every SIDE nv rules ana fcguia
OnS: to be penned into school ana
prced to study whether you would ol
IT: to be required to appear punctual-
at meal times or to make known
Efficient reason why you have not
one 50. and to be punished for dis
-gardinC UNPLEASANT requirements
men your puddlhg Intelligence car
id no reason for; then IS our enid
~ Vel ''''''S '''''e u e'''i'''e'' iiee
Moreover, to be sent to bed at an a b.