The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-02-17

A narent Is no less a parent because
the child has attained years OF So
called discretion. One feels at tunes
that they should be termed years OF
indiScretion.
The relations with which we have to
dc lust now are those that exist be-
tween the child and the parent-es-
pecially the mother-after the boy or
girl is beyond the boundaries OF the
nursery-that is, after he has attained
10 or IL years Of age. 1t is at TINS
point that the young animal feels a
desire for freedom, and, If not proper
ly curbed, this freedom will at times
amount to lawlessness.
The father need not be so much
considered in this matter as the
away from home SO often that the
training of the young people devolves
upon his wife. Then his very pres
ence and the infrequency of his re-
proofs make the latter seem OF mo-
ment to the boy or girl, and any COM
mand Of his is needed, or at least re-
ceived with some show Of respect.
The same may not be said OF the ma
ternal mandates.
It Is safe to assert that the worst
children in the civilized world are the
that they are more vicious, more I'M
principled than children of other ma
tions, but they are certainly less
amenable to just authority, less re-
spectful to their elders, and more sure
Of themselves, their rights and indie
pendence. If one doubts this, let one
note the manner of the average girl
or boy Of IA toward the mother.
few weeks ago in a crowded ele-
waited train in which I had managed
to get a seat a mother, daughter and
father stood in the aisle directly in
front of me. I could not help over
hearing their conversation. All were
handsomely dressed-the father and
mother evidently people of education.
The mother sighed YEARLY, and said
to the 14-year-old girl that she was
tired.
"Of course you are,'' was the quick
rejoinder. II told you if you took the
elevated you would have to stand. But
you would do it,
But" said the mother, in gentle
explanation, sit takes so much less
time to come this way
"Well, them" was the pert rejoind-
err, eff you are glad you came this why
do you make so much fuss about it
You're here, so let the matter drop.
The mother-after the manner o.
the obedient American maternal, sub
sided into silence, and the father
hearing all this conversation, admins
tered no rebuke to the impertinen
child. Had she been 40 instead OF Ia
she deserved harsh censure for thu
addressing a person older than her
self, and that person her mother.
Still the mother was to blame NOR
than the child. Had she not been al
lowed to go wrong from. her cradle
speaking impertinently, she woul
not do so now. One clever but disre
spctful girl voiced this truth when
her mother Gliding her for imperti
nence, added:
margaret, T now appreciate tina
you were not spanked often enough
when you were child"
The girls eyes flashed.
'That was not my fault" she re
sponded. eff you did not see you
duty toward me then, you may pa
for it now"
Verify the education should have be
gun in childhOOd--yes, even in baby
hood.
STILL there are girls and boys who
having been tractable in infancy, fee
that when they leave the chi1dis
stage they need no longer obey. Thi
is the case in nine homes out Of tel