The Washington times., 1903-02-22

person that just grew, as the
most casual observation will
abundantly prove. Il would seem a
pity that many children are left to
the tender mercies OF their own
mothers, who know as much about
raising them as they do about per-
fectinE wireless telegraphy.
A spoiled child is about as satisfaC-
tory as a balky horse or a kicking
mule. There is no telling which way
it Will kick. what will be the outlook
or who will be hurt. There might be
some commentary added here, as the
spoiled child rarely hurts anyone but
itself although il manages to make
everyone uncomfortable; and. while
it may revel in the idea that II is
having piles of fun. il is safe to say
that ii is having all the fun to itself.
That it is an unmitigated and una
bated nuisance no one will dispute.
not even the doting mother herself,
who thinks IT perfect, wherein she
enjoys a monopoly of private opinion.
Pause and Consider.
II mothers would only consider how
absolutely trying such offspring are to
everyone as well as themselves, they
would at least have the common sense
to cultivate such control as would les
sen the horror that others entertain
OF the child whom no one manages or
whom no one really likes.
In the early stages of babyhool
many things that seem cute and per-
fectly lovely become as the child
grows older. something in the nature
OF a sore affliction TO be borne as
one would the chicken-pox or some
kindred visitation. The reflection that
the spoiled child is a misery to itself
and a greater misery to others should
guard against the tyranny that such
a child always exercises.
II is an easy matter to curb the first
tendencies of this kind in a child. but
when the once take root the eradi-
cation is almost an impossiblity.
When the young idea begins to shoot.
among its first discoveries is the con-
seriousness that il has a viii of its
own. which viii is prone to assert
Itself just at the moment when the
mother wants to enjoy the same priv
ilege. These early stages are the fit
ting time to implant the lesson of
self-control. which later in life must
be exercised toward others.
Theory and Practice.
II makes me feel absolutely feeble
to read the learned theories Of So
called experts on the subject Of rails
ing children, the writer's Of which
might be styled old maid mothers
and wives who never having been
blessed with offspring Of their own,
start out TO raise on paper a lot OF
other peoples children by such the
cries and deductions as are paid for
at space rates and read beautifully:
but the mother who tries to bring up
her children by theories will find that
she is dancing to the wrong measure |
OF ragtime.
As the result Of experience. the 1
study Of human nature and of child /
culture, a woman who has raised sue /
cessfully, or otherwise, a small brood !
Of energetic young ones. learns 1
thing or two that the old maid |
mother never has had (and I came /
near saying never will have. which, I
OF course. is problematicaD the chance /
OF knowing. In the early stages Of I
the game IL is simply a question of /
which shall rule the household-the !
child or the mother. If the child /
gains the supremacy then the mother 4
may bid adieu to any foolish dreams /
she may have nursed regarding the 1
comfort or pleasure she may hope to /
enjoy through the child-love in the 4
future.
The ill-bred spoiled child is general /
" boy. the doting mothers idol who /
is either too weak or too much the 4