Evening journal., 1902-03-01

and cared for as the average modern
child.
Therefore the parents in a former
day taught them respect, possibly born
Of fear They played and fought to-
sether and each worked out its own
salvation. and somehow emerged from
the conflict a fairly respectable man or
woman.
There was thought to be no indignity
in their eating at the second table, and
the maxim that little folks are to be
seen and not heard, was rigidly en-
forced.
The clothes of number one descended
to number two as a matter of course.
and if not annihilated. were passed on
to number three. In the evenings they
studied their lessons or sat rigid on
their stools until bedtime
There was little special attention
given to the direction and development
OF their minds There were the schools
and they had to keep up with the
prescribed courses. on penalty of a
thrashing at school. to be duplicated
when they returned to the home.
Yet they loved their parents, respect
ed their teachers, and usually developed
a ruggedness which is never the result
OF being pampered The child who
could survive those experiences with an
element of vanity or extreme selfish
ness. was rare.
And now? Well. we are engaged
in the mysteries Of infant psychology,
in order that the infant mind may de-
velOp properly, to the end that the next
generation may be brighter and han
pier than this. But have we not for
gotten that each generation has its
rights? And may we not have to or
ganize a society for the protection Of
parents?
In these days we have the kindergar-
ten to develop the Juvenile minds, and
make little ladies and gentlemen land
sometimes prigs) out of our offspring.
better education would be to allow
every boy and girl from infancy to six
OF seven years of age to roam the
woods and fields wade the streams in
summer. catch butterflies and to de-
velop warts and freckles-as all ur-
chins should
They should be allowed to live close
to nature. and to settle their little diff
ferences without the intermeddling of
parents or teachers. 1t is the period
when their senses are alive to impress
sions. and their curiosity is about
things rather than concerning abstract
truth
OF all things parents should beware
OF an infant prodigy Such children
become self-conscious by the attentions
they receive. and in after years will
pay the penalty for their early precoc-
ity.
There are few sadder spectacles than
that of showing off children in public.
A little miss benounced and polished
comes before the audience to sing a
song or to recite a piece, not to inter
est the audience. but to receive their
admiration. Out of sympathy for the
tender years there is applause, and the
prodigy is called back TO the tune OF
on. isn't she sweet" and chow cum
ming! and another insufferable little
lady is made.
One Of the most famous teachers OF
elocutiOn, woman Of rare intelligence
once had an interview with a be-iewel-
~ '.'NA VIM AtSlAtN utI uduEnleT 10
receive instruction on certain selec-
tions. The child had appeared in pub
lie many times. and was as self-con-
scious and naughty as a prima-donna.
The mother informed the teacher
that her daughter did not care much
for her books but loved reciting. She
went over her repitOry. finging her
arms wildly and in that strained un-
natural voice which is frequently heard
in childish speakers, made a mockery
of sentiments she could not under
stand and had never felt
When she had finished the teacher
advised that such work be dropped
and her studies substituted, "for" said
she. "to continue that kind of teaching
would be a crime"
Children should receive due care TO
their health and the moral influences
should he of the best. But they should
not be the centre around which life
revolves. They should grow up
healthy, good hammered and good ma
tured animals learning from their
surroundings. and upon this structure
we can build the best manhood and
womanhood
PROPERTIES CHANGE HANDS