The Vinita weekly chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1905, 1904-08-25
TIE MANNERS or cAILpRsN


hOuthh TOUR OF the luttto otattas tA-
tending from San Francisco. Seattle
and Los Angeles to the east. were the
most enthusiastic foreigners with re-
gard 20 the United States and the
American people that ever met re-
marked a Washington woman. reports
the star During the four days they
spent with my husband and me thsi-
praises for. what they had seen here
were nnceasing Bnt they had one crit
ielsm. and only one. That criticism
had to do with the public conduct OF
American children. They frankly de-
clared that nowhere IN the world-and
they are globe trotters'of years stand
ing--had they seen such utterly rude
| and unmannerly children OF both sexes.
as they found all over the United
States particularly, they specis
fed, the children OF well-to-do parents.
They narrated many stories con-
cernlng the ronghness of manner. con
trarIness, fiat dlsobedience, crankiress,
disrespect 10 elders and plg-headed
stubbornness Of children with whom
they had come in contact In their lei
surely travels over the United States.
am bound to say that their stories
perfectly agreed with observations Of
my own.
THE thing that appeared to surprise
these English folk the most was that
American mothers rarely or never cor
rected their young children for rude
or even vicious conduct In public. They
told OF how. at Chicago hotel. a little
six-year-old girl. in a bad humor In
the dining hall, deliberately knocSed
over the sugar bowl so that the loaf
sugar was scattered all over the floor.
The little girls mother hadn't single
word OF reproof for the vixen. Il
seemed.
" 'Dawling, how could you? was all
she said, whereupon the dear little girl
promptly told her mother to shut up,
an injunction which the mother i'm
mediately obeyed.
''The Englsshman and his wife posi-
lively declared that in al OF their wan
derings from the Pacific coast east
ward they had never once seen a mis-
behaving child corrected or even se-
verely reproved.
II am. as my Husband says. a mighty
sudden woman when | hear any cri'-
icism OF the United States or the peo-
pie OF the United States. and believe
] am somewhat qulcter even than
some Of NY most intensely patriotic
nelghbors 70 resent criticism from the
tongues OF foreigners.
"Yet, In all fairness. was and am
bound to confess that there was a very
great deal OF truth in these remarks
OF the Engiishman and his wife re-
specting our children. American chill
dren are rough and rude and willfui
and dlsobedient. and whosoeyer falls
10 perceive that they are becoming
more so every year Is simply blind.
There is altogether too much mothers
congress maudiiness employed IN the
rearing Of children IN this country
too much OF the so-caIled moral sua-
sion business There may be children
in the world somewhere who are amen
able 70 treatment by the moral suaslon |
method. but have never happened to
run across any Of them myself, and |
have reared and married OF q brood OF |
six Of them myself. quite aside from
The fact that ] used 70 Be q child my |
self. Too many women are deriving
heir ideas Of how 70 raise children |
rom the more or less mawkish period
cal literature penned on that subject,
md the corrective rod. together with
he eminently effeetual slipper and
hair brush's back. have been made OBJ
Iolete for the purposes for which they
ssed to be employed Take a look
around you and count how many nice
reapectful. obedlent
Foung children you know. and YOU wiili
oe surprised at the conclusion you are
bound 70 arrive At Nor Is Il Al all
necessary to auppo~e that children
lave got 70 be pFlgsish to be well be.
layed hate 70 have % own Il. as an
american woman and mother. but Il Il
9 a simple fact that hes come under
ny observation IN the course Of several 1
Tiaits 10 England that English children 4
IRE far and aWay TIE basf manneredl II
children In the world. Tas boys are
manly. rugged little chaps. not 'slssles'
y any manner Of means. bat OF re-
pectful demeanor and infalllble GOOD H
'ouduct when In the presence Of their
iiders, They are strictly taught. too
o be fair and square With each other
ghen at play with their boy mates
rhe little girls are lively and even
ioydenlah. but they are extremsly
iweet and amiable. 10 the polnt of be-
ng old-faahioned In their manner 70.
Yard their parents and All older per-
ons English children. Ia brief. are
'effectiy and entirely lovahle Ana
be fact Is not 70 be overlooked that
slth rerNrd 20 English boys A. anr
ate the Institution known as the
birch is still = prominent article of
urniiure in English hoaseA0lda
There Is entirely toa much sensi.
mentality In the uprearine Of Amers-