The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-05-15
The Training of the Child
NV Mrs. REBEcCA HANrrDEN.

Children have sometimes been ac-
cused of cruelty to animals when their
acts have only been the result of ig-
norance. They have not been taught
that it hurts to pull the cats tail and
so they seem to delight in its pain, as
it makes, to them, funny endeavors to
free itself from it's tormentors
Even very young children can be
made to understand that dumb ami
mails have the same sensitive nerves
as themselves, and if pinched. pulled
about, and otherwise maltreated, SUI
fer accordingly.
Little James once seized a kitten a
few weeks old and threw it into an ex-
cavation half filled with rocks. Then,
with a beatifc smile upon his face, he
stood watching it's struggles to climb
out. When asked how he could do so
cruel thing he was astonished, and
was grieved beyond measure when told
that he had hurt the kitten, and that
it's struggles and vain attempts to
climb out only added to its pain and
fright.
When the kitten, trembling with
fear, was finally rescued, it was ex-
no mother to comfort it, and that if it
had it could not speak and tell its
troubles. The boy began to understand,
and taking the kitten in his arms, he
said, between sobs of sympathy and
contrition, Il did not mean to hurt you,
kitty. ! only thought it was funny to
see you climb. l won't do it again,
kitty, and l will be your mamma when
you hurt yourself and cry"
The man who is merciful to his
beast did not begin life by tormenting
dumb creatures; kind hearts in adults
are not the product of unchecked cruel
propensities of childhood
Many mothers are reprehensible in
these matters; they do not realize the
injustice to which they are subjecting
their offspring in allowing them to
treat their pets as if they had no feel
ing. If Johnny can be amused by
dragging his faithful little friend Tow
ser around the floor by one leg, why
that is all right; it pleases Johnny and
keeps him quiet when his mother is
busy. If the dog should show any
signs of retaliation, why, of course
Johnny is justified in getting stick
to punish Towser with, for he is a bad
dog.
There is no better way to teach chill
dren to be kind 10 animals than to give
| them pets to care for, and then Ia
make them responsible for that care
The fact that dumb creatures are de-
pendent upon human beings cannot be
| taught too early in life. The facts
| that they cannot make their wants
known and that If their food is ne
! elected or forgotten they will suffer
with hunger and thirst can be strik-
| ingly demonstrated to the child wher
| he is hungry, and 1t is explained tc
| him that his pets are just as hun
| CRY as he is when he thinks he
cannot wait another minute for hi
| supper.
| Life is new to children; they have
much to learn in their first few years
1t is. therefore. not to be wondered a
that they attach no more Importance
to a living plaything than they do Il
a mechanical doll, which. for all they
know, may have as much feeling anC
sensitiveness as a dumb animal, who
while it may look unutterable things
could not possibly say Mamma" o.
Papa" and does not always shut III
eyes when laid upon It's back.
Children of the present generation
have many advantages of early train
ing in this branch of education whicl