Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-03-04
When Children Make
Embarrassing Remarks
BY MARGARET f. sANGSTER.
Copyright, 1906, by Joseph b. Bowles.

tCOpyright, 1910, Dy Joseph D. DoNlca.I
Everybody is familiar with the enfsnt ter
rible Du Maurier occasionally drew him
for our amusement. and he figures in many
jests and anecdotes.
This sometimes uncomfortable specimen
of childhood is not necessarily disagreeable
or spoiled lie. simply at his best state has
a habit of appearing on the scene when he
is not wanted. and of hurting out hits of
truth that more tactful elders know enough
to suppress. A child of this variety was
one day sent by his mother to carry an ex-
tremely beautiful pair of slippers to gem
tleman living in the neighborhood. She
| wrapped the gift in tissue paper and placed
it in n box, with her card addressing it
carefully, but she forgot to tell her little
messenger to leave the box at the door and
return directly. The boy had his own
friendliness toward the neighbor, and wait
ed to see how he would receive the gift
Your mother is wonderfully good" said
the gentleman. These slippers are Just
what wanted most. 1t was lovely in her
to make them for me-"
oh" exclaimed the child, mother didn't
make them for YOU she made them for my
father, and as they did not fit him she was
so yexed she did not know what to do At
last she thought she would send them over
here and she wouldn't bother about buyins
the edge of pleasure in the case and made
the recipients thanks a trife perfunctory.
ASK your father" said Bobby's mother.
If he does not want to come to the library
and see dear Aunt Fanny, who is soon going
away" Off rushed the child, to be back In
a minute, saying: Father does not care
about coming in to see Aunt Fanny He
says she is old cat" When n little later
with an air of gentle bonhomie Aunt Fan
nys nephew by marriage presented himself
the situation was awkward and the old
lady's manner a little strained
Al table where several friends of the
family were gathered a young lady re-
marked to little Percy, eight years old,
If you won't play games with me l shall
not come again"
Il hope you never WILL frankly answered
the child. Il don't like you and 1 shall be
glad when you go away
There lives in a southern family a tradi-
ton that soon after his famous duel with
Alexander Hamilton Aaron Burr was
guest beneath its hospitable roof. Dueling
was not In those days regarded in south
ern households as necessarily disgraceful,
II prelfmfnarles had been duly arranged,
and the affair Of honor had been conducted
according to the code. Nevertheless, a good
deal of comment OF an unkindly nature fol-
lowed Burr after that fatal ending of his
duel with the popular Hamilton. The sur
yiyor was less fortunate than the victim.
A child of the house wandered into the
guests room and, seeing there q silver
mounted pistol. possessed himself of 1t and.
quired: is this the pistol. Col Burr, with
which you killed Gen. HamiHen?"
One may imagine the confusion and dis
may of the older people at the innocent
and inopportune remark.
y
Conscientious parents are often puzzled
what to do with the enfant terrible. He
would be less formidable II ~ remem-
bered two time-worn and homey adages.
namely, Little pitchers have big ears"
and children should be seen and not
heard.
WeIl-bred children do not interrupt con-
versation. say disagreeable things. or re-
peat what they should early learn will
wound the feelings of others. American
children are far too much in the fore
ground. Their place is not where 1t should
be In the happy privacy of the home, for
foolish parents trot them out and make
them show their PAGES until they are pulled
up with vanity and Importance. The PEN
dulum In its swing from the severity Of an
earlier time has gone too Tar In an OPP