The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-03-15

for his country's veal than rear for 10
citizens OF moral worth; but children who
are born and grow up about as Topsy did
do not make such citizens. Our direst need
Is for parents who have q deep sense OF
the responsibility intrusted to them. Their
most vital business should be character
building rather than euchre and poker par
ties. They have pliable material in their
charge which is too often allowed to harden
into ugly shapes Ask the public school
teacher OF the aggravated cases Of spoiled
child with which she has to deal, and OF the
foolishly indulgent parents who fight the
kindest EFFORTS to correct malignant habits
for Cupid Is not half 80 blind as the aver
age mother. Often the teacher who would
be the good Samaritan Ia forced to contend
with bitterness from the parents and dis
like from the child to accomplish the b.
ginning or needed revolution In the pupit6
habits.
1t is not from these unweeded gardens
child who is never thwarted. who obtains
everything he cries for, who wreaks an
uncontrolled temper on all who deny hia
demands, is ripe for crime Of some sort by
the time he has reached manhood. His
unframed temper often cuts short his op-
portunities for education, and he IL hope-
'lessly ignorant; he cannot control himself.
and becomes the victim OF his own passions.
Do we want large families Of this Quality1
Instead, We want men OF worth and In
tegrity, trained to unselfsh power, women
or strong, decided character, who are wise
enough TO deny hurtful things to their chii-
dren Weakness is guilty of all wicked
ness.
The bonds of matrimony are far too easy
of access. SO that fools rush I'm where
angels fear to tread" No inquiry what
ever is made by the commonwealth as to
on its Threshold, be they old enough to
have sense. 1t is presumed that they have
IL. An office which IL would seem fitting
acter might perform may be received a
the hands OF an ignorant magistrate whose
dealings are the scorn Of the community.
OF every imaginable profession In the world
save for motherhood and fatherhood. In
which sphere wisdom II doubtless acquired
by intuition: Naturally. parents who have
prove on second-but what Of the lost ma
terial? Yet II Is bold spinster who
intrudes her advice on the average mother.
teacher who has taught forty young chill
dren OF different families for some score OF
years, making a total experience Of nine
months of the life of each Of eight hundred
wisdom in regard to children and the right
way to manage them for their own good.
But let none such presume on her oppor-
tunity IL she be a spinster.
Human parents are generally the pros
genitors OF angels. and the little wings
spread. and futter in unexpected ways,
while mother is too busy and father too
careless 70 infiict the promised punishment
So IL results that every village has its quota
of useless young men, fast young men, tai.
pursue their advantages. worthless sons of
rich men, criminals who have been sheltered
from the law etc This store of youths Ia
complemented, by less number. perhaps,
OF weak and frivolous young women-for Il
is Thomas Jefferson rather than Terry Ann
who goes to waste What a combination
for a future generation.
This is the reason the willy politician never
has 10 seek for his tools: they are awaiting
him. ready-made- II IL the honest man
OF firm convictions who Is rare. The coun-
try needs many men who can vote. but none
whose votes or influence may be purchased-
To one who thinks far enough along this
line a terrible proportion OF the evil OF our
country is directly traceable 10 the over
also. Rather guard child from Nee
than from death. Parents who rear neg.
lected families do the country an injury -
pebble cast into q lake Let thu desire.
then, be not for larger families. but to-
better ones; not for votes. but Tor intsllls
gent votes. =