The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-13
HOME DISCIPLINE-py Margaret E. sans.ser

maid except that she possesses certain of
rough kindliness. If would have wellbred young
ing around us in beauty and comeness and good
behavior, must not delegate their first instruction
in the arts of civilized life to those who
least equals in refinement.
Fathers and mothers should either personally train
the children, engage helpers tutors and gov
ernesses, people socially their equals.
+ + :.
If you would see what discipline does for those
who come under its sway, pay visit to Annapolis
West Point. Those young men than whom none are
entitled to be the pride of the republic have
been subjected to discipline that is relaxed,
that omits attention to detail that insists obedi
ence, truth and honor and on the most complete
promptness and punctuality We have no finer gentle
men than the men Of the army and navy. They prove
what discipline do.
Parental discipline in the household is too often
thing Of Impulse parents do not pull together If the
father is severe the mother neutrazes his srietness
by her indulgence If the mother be disposed rigid
requirements the father renders her efforts abortve
by making fun Of her, setting her authority aside
when parents disagree as to spirit and efforts, they
should do SO in private and at least in the presence
OF the children should act and speak in entire har
mony. =
I knew group Of clever children who, when play
ing at some distance from the house and hearing a
call would stop short, look one another and ask
seriously: it mother, is it daddyg' If it were
the former they TRANQUILITY continued their plays if the
latter, they rushed homeward at double-quck speed
They knew that mother g call could be indefinitely
disregarded, but that it would never do not to run
Wnen their rather summoned them. In this instance
wrong was done to the children by the lenient ma
ternal guidance that made possible feminine
voice to be unheeded
Whether or not you believe it, most children are
much fonder Of the hand that rules with a firm and
equal discipline, than of the other whose governments
Is weak and uncertain. Just as horse goes cheer
fully forward when the hand that holds the reins IS
strong and fearless children keep the happes pace
when the home discipline is gentle and strong Chill
dren never care very much for teacher who cannot
maintain order in the classroom They are not nearly
SO eontented are they agreeable others when
the home discipline is in the of succession of
connlcts, nagging on one side, frettng on another
faultfnding and peevishness the order Of the dav
w. \ !. i.
At the back of home government should be wise
and unselfsh love- Affection is the handspring of fam.
ny life but love is not the only attribute of home dis.
cipline 1t needs to be built upon justice the even
handed justice that treats all impartiay that does
not make favorite Of child and foil of another
that does not permit the older to be despotic or the
younger to be annoying, and that remembers that
childhood is fast fitting by and that before MANY
years are gone our children will themselves be con.
fronted with the real burdens of grown-up Ife