New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-04-30
WHEN sHp WAS A CHILD.

Thu letters on corporal punishment In the ex-
change whereby tho ancient and honorable insutu-
ton Of spanking has been discussed In all lts GEAR
ines have awakened interest in my mind. Perhaps
have no right TO discuss 30 weishty matter nav
ing never been q mother. But have been daugh-
Far ALI nv life and surely there is something 70 say
from the daughters end OF this subject as well as
from the mothers 1t is Elizabeth who remarks
soueyvhere In her German Garden" that II Is a
somewhat staggering reflection 10 think that after
the babies grown they will remember things
about YOU and understand them and condemn
them, perhaps. which passed over their lnfant
minds without comprehension.
can remember only one whipping that ever re-
ceived. may have had Others but they have com
pletely passed from my mind. and I think there
were not many for ours not a whipping house
hold Neither were we sent to bed without supper
or punished in any other material way. we were
simply scolded. That was the method OF our disci-
plne And as look back on It, hate 1t Perhaps
II had been brought up in whipping house
would hate tho memory OF that Just as much
One morning my mother and were dressing in
the same chamber. She addressed remark to me.
and answered her. She took this answer for Grass
impudence. Now. I would swear with my dying
breath that meant no impudence by this answer:
that had not the slightest intention desire OF
making impudent reply No such feeling was IN
my mind 1t was simply the chance remark OF a
child who had the slightest idea how the words
would sound. At that moment my father happened
20 enter the room My mother. white with anger,
told him what I had said. Without an lnstant's
delay he twisted me around against his knee still
standing. leaned down and spanked me soundly.
Now, my only feeling one OF utter, bewdered
establishment. I did know why punish ed.
did not feel any injustice for 1 realized. at
that moment. that I must have said something
which very bad I would not have got what
did 1 simply did not know what It was, that was
all. And, beyond ALL 1 covered with shame that
my father should have administered Just that kind
OF correction.
Mrs. Stowe in "Old Town Folks" represents the
delightful grandmother of that book saying com
fortingly TO naughty Bill when he resented punish
ment for something he had done: "Oh WELL
let II go for something you did do then" Could I
have adopted this philosophy. my unexpected spank
Ing would have been peacefully set down to the
debit side OF long account. 1 can remember many
escapades for which. II a child is ever punished
should have been I remember ono beautiful Satur-
day in the fall when took my younger sister and
a neighbor girl away into the woods. There was no
particular reason 10 suppose that we would be de-
MED the privilege: but there might be and in
tended to have risk. ! deliberately stole such
food as needed from the pantry and led the others
far away into the beautiful red and gold forest
There we spent a long and happy day. 1 knew per-
fectly well that both my mother the other girl
mother would be alarmed and distressed and de-
hberately let them suffer 1 led my party home
after nightfal. to find that both mothers had been
securing the village. No punishment was ever given
me Tor THIS performance. The other girl on
the contrary. whipped severely. which was not fair
as entirely responsible. 1 am shocked now
when 1 think of this and similar things: and II
seems to me should have been punished severely
for them The trouble is parents punish for results
generally and not for actions.
ON the contrary, my mother once took sides
against me in way that aroused my passionate
resentment and IT was years before L could think
of her attitude on that occasion without anger
against her. Only the melowing process of ma
ture life has enabled conquer that feeling
l was sent to farm in the country. occupied
by a tenant of my fathers. II a mile or
two from the nearest neighbours. and place of
hilarious delight to me. l tagged the farmer from
morning TIL night rode the old horse bareback
and astrfde. j helped pitch hay had a glorious
ly happy month, and went home sunburned and
overlooking with health and vitality. 1t was an
eminently sensible act of my mothers TO send me
there and il by such experiences in my child
hood that l stored up health and vitality ana a
/ constitution 70 last me a hard strain
In Later years But now came the farmers wife
and expressed to my mother her astonishment
and horror at my performances why. she's the