The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-06-04
HERE AND THERE.
META FoLcER TOWNSEND
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According to the theory Of certain
scientists. il took many ages for the
process of evolution to develop a real
mother At the rate we are now GO
Ing | wonder how long it would re-
qure to evolve the mother-instinct out
of the race?
Mr.. A. is a man of sterling Christian
character, but he lacks imagination.
His first child, a girl, was not allowed
to have dolls when she reached the
doll age. Mr.. A. had his own opinion
of such foolishness. If you have no.
ticed the little tots closely you may
have observed that the doll-instinct
begins to manifest itself early, some
times before the little one is year old.
This particular child was carefully
brought up with a view to overcoming
or not acquiring the preiudices of her
maternal forbears, but promptly, at an
early age, she began to mother stick
of stove wood! After that the higher
criticism as applied TO the internal
evidences of inspiration in a two-year-
old, began to weaken. Reason gave
way before primal instinct, and the
little woman was allowed to have
doll.
Some time ago The Century had in
it haunting and melancholy article
by Rebecca Harding Davis entitled
THE Gray Cabins of New England"
One of the most pathetic things there
in is q description of an unmarried
woman whose mind had been fed while
her heart was neglected, and who. IN
mature life, her books piled about her,
turns from them and with brain weak
ened and learning gone, spends her
days nursing a doll!
Yesterday a sweet-looking woman
took a babe into her arms, drew the
little one close with tender pressure
and said, "A young babay is the sweet
est thing i'm the world" When 1
marked the glow on her face, the love-
light in her eyes, | did not wonder that
the greatest artists have always
striven to paint the Madonna.
There is no beauty compared to the
beauty of a woman's face when it is
alight with love.
Just now 1 have in mind young
lady who has spent a few years in
teaching. She has the mental make
up of a woman who is always inter-
esting. sympathy and insight she has,
as well as the more distinctly intellec-
tual qualities When l learn that she
is planning to spend part of the COM
ing not weather in studying higher
mathematics, for which she has spe-
Cldl IOlQl6SS. L all lllGu Will duIIAAlsl 81
ton for the strength and energy of
her mind but when she takes my little
one in her arms and, in true womanly
fashion, talks all sorts of pretty nom
sense to her, then am Y filled with
love for the girl. Then can l under
stand why DIR. Holmes should say
"Heart-women always interest US more
than brain-women."
When, in my darker moods / think
of life's sadness, of the heartaches the
future must bring to very child. OF the
cruel struggles with the world and its
temptations, then am l constrained to
sympathize with those women who
dread the responsibility of children.
Yet in my hopeful moods, when things
are seen through the light of true
medium / know these are but coward
fears and that, withal, such fears do
not constitute the real reason why the
southern home is beginning 70 be
made UP of a decreasing number Of
children.