The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-09-28

they can put music in their soul, the long
ing for musical development and do so.
Read the life history of great composers,
singers, players, of both sexes-in nine out
of ten cases they sprang from poor stock
The love for music, for acting, was reused
in the unborn child by the mothers liking
for that sort of entertainment. generally
easy to obtain by persons of small means.
AS with music so with the other arts
and professions. Parents wishing their
child TO be equipped with the desire and
capacity for acquiring knowledge need but
exercise their own powers in the given di-
rection to predestine their SON or daughter
for the career of mathematician, or lawyer
pianist. or landscape gardener. historian,
poet, mechanic or inventor.
But to inoculate their child with talents
of a certain kind. 1t is not necessary that
the parents practice the desired trade or
profession; it suffices If they take an in
telligent interest in it. They must read
on the subject, must talk over it, must
have it always before their mental and, if
possible, their physical eye. The mother,
especially, should concentrate her atten-
ton upon the subject by reading and re-
reading all its advanced and practical
literature. If she wants her child to be
painter or sculptor. she should visit the
museums. day by day, surround herself
with objects of art and watch artists at
work If she cannot WELD the brush or
chisel herself. The ancient Greeks recog-
nized the value of this. In Athens the
favorite promenade of married women was
the Parthenon, where the principal objects
of classic art were displayed. filled eye
and mind with pictures of beauty and
symmetry-hence the classic Greek type
the standard of beauty to this very day.
CULTIVATION OF THE MIND.
But, it will be argued, not every parent
knows what to make of children even after
they have attained the age of maturity
admit 1t, likewise. that the choice is diff
cult at best But there are talents and
qualities of mind that fit all future con-
ditions that will be an advantage in every
profession or trade.
To mention one in place of many: there
is memory. Memory is a wonderful slim
ulant to success; the mother can impart a
good memory to her child by cultivating
her own, by memorizing dates, recalling
distant events, faces, pieces of poetry or
speeches. Again 1 hear an objection: the
study. That is undoubtedly true Let the
mother, then, put her reasoning power to
work matters of everyday life. Book
knowledge is only part of the mental equip
ment that makes for success and those
averse to theory are fortunately the more
inclined for practical activity. Let the I'M
bookish woman instill I'm her child habits
of system and order, the power of con-
centration, method and punctuality and,
above all. let her not worry about her own
or her husbands shortcomings. All will
be well If he tries honestly, earnestly and
persistently. To sum up, 1 advocate the
survival of the fittest qualities in parents,
the arousing of the best thoughts, inten-
lions and ideas and the suppression, the
absolute suppression, of all evil tendencies.
If it is wrong to have weak, imperfect chill
dren, IL is crime to have offspring
marred for life by the parents neglect,
ignorance i'll will. Hence, it is incum-
bent upon the state to take care of prospec-
tive mothers living in surroundings that do
not promise well for the character and at
tainments of their children.
This suggests q vast economic reform
but, after all, ii will not cost more to have
well born children than such of evil birth
Maternity homes are only fewer, but not
more costly to maintain than jails and
insane asylums.
Copyright by Henry w. Fischerl
A cable dispatch of Sept. p reported that
the Czarinas child, prematurely born on
account of an accident. her Majesty having
fallen down a flight Of stairs, was a full
grown boy. The Czarina is a firm believer
in the Schenck method, and lived up to it.
salem