The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1903-11-29
MOTHERS AS MISERY MAKERS.

There are mothers and mothers, says
the Kansas City Journal, but the
mother who makes misery in the home
is the one who is an immaculate house.
keeper. Her house is spotless and
justices; no one can enter the door I'M
Ill his feet are carefully busted; when
II the house he has an uncomfortable
feeling that perhaps he may drop a
speck of dust on the chair or floor,
md when he leaves he imagines this
frantic Nemesis of dirt has grasped
L broom and swept out his dust after
him.
A woman who recently came under
ny observation was just this sort. Her
,wo exceedingly lively boys seem al
most irrepressible. They must stay
outdoors, and if they want a drink or
cookie she takes it to them rather
than let them come in and get dirt on
the floor, says the Boston Herald. If
they get dirt on the steps she scolds;
if they clutter up the yard she rennon-
Strates; If they quarrel she storms: if
hey remain quiet she is equally dis
satisfied. Her nerves are worn thread
bare by overworking herself and the
slightest noise makes her explode. Her
can't go in and clutter it up.
When it rains and they must stay
indoors she is nearly distracted with
the noise they make. ooh, Joe, can't
you sit still five minutes?" she calls
out in her high pitched voice. IF you
will stop talking an hour I'll give you
dollar" Jimmy, stop kicking that
chair. Did you hear me? I don't see
why you can't behave2"
10 her boys as if they were human
beings; it is nothing but scold, scold.
She never interests herself in their
play or tries to direct them from bad
actions to something better. When
they are particularly bad in her esti-
nation a sound thrashing amid vo-
ciferous scolding is their portion until
her own passion is expended.
Sunday is the day of all days to be
dreaded by those boys. They must not
loll about in the dirt and get their
Sunday trousers soiled, they muslin t
play ball, they mustn't run, yet Moth
ing is done by the parents to amuse
them and keep them quiet.
Is not the picture an example of pa
rents tyranny and one that you read
lily recognize? Boys can have no re-
sDect or love for such a mother nor
any pleasant recollection of their boy
hood days.
The future of no child is so absolute
ly in the keeping of it's parents as is
that of the nervous youngster, urges
an authority on such subjects. BY in
judicious treatment such a child may
be made to grow up a physical and
moral wreck, at odds with himself and
all the world. Under wise manage
ment the same child may develop into
a high and lovable type, gentle, af-
fectionate, sensitive, strong. The
nervous child is always the most diff
cult to manage, and needs unlimited
patience to cope with the despondancy
and irritability which are almost in
evitable with such temperaments.
Seedlings or punishment only increase
the tension and do incalculable harm.
There are two general types of nerv-
Gus children: the active child always
on the go, inquisitive and acquisitive,
but delicate as the mimosa leaf, shrink
ing back into itself at the first re-
pulse or harsh word, and the pale
quiet, affectionate child, thoughtful, re-
sponsiVe, reserved. The child.
of the first type may be the embroyo
philanthropist or leader of criminals,
inventor or social iconoclast, as his
training tends. while the child of the
second type develops into the philoso-
pHeIi the poet the man OF letters, or
the misanthrope, the recluse, the an
archist, as the case may be. One of
the greatest mistakes in training a
nervous child is to think that strength
can come through opposition. Such
child should be guided, not driven.
If afraid Of the dark it should not be
forced to sleep in an unlighted room.
Timidity should not be ridiculed, but
patiently explained and argued away
Tonics, good, digestible food. an open
air life. avoidance of long hours os
study, frequent changes of air and
scene are all not only serviceable but,
one might say, indispensable in the
transformation of the child of nervous
disposition into the well-poised man
or woman. @