The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-08-07

the power of analytical comparison
and keen perception-and most OF
US if we are not too unWise in handl-
ing our children are-but e Sare
when your youth of sixteen has seen
the habits of better and wiser men
than you. Then must you watch
out. For if you do not grow with
and adjust yourself to the changing
point of view a1d the increased Wis
ion of your child you soon will find
you ere fast losing his respect. Give
a child wise guidance! Study not
how to make him a replica, a repro
duction of yourself; but to lead him
to be a distinct personality, possessed
Of strong individuality, molding by
his own actions his being into the
stature of the Son Of God
Some one has said: who is to
blame for the pitiable mite which
children give in return for a parents
food of love?" I do not know; but
Of this l am sure: if parents would
cease to feel that they W their
children in common with their
horses, their estates and their cat
tie; if they would not, as many 40
in varying degrees, treat their chill
dren as their property, the return
of love would be far more adequate
than 1t Is" 49,,
We know how true that Is. And
yet l fear that many Of US do not
know how to handle j W chill
dren. A good child asks not for
more pocket money, or newer
clothes, or a more sumptuous sup
ply at the table-but for a rlcner
love. 1t is useless to try to hold
children with gifts. Children shoula
be taught to yield honor through
parental love. A man who attempts
to bind his children to him with ma
terial possessions must surely fall.
But the father and the mother-be
they ever so unlearned and be they
ever so poor-who give their W1sest
experience and richest love to the
cultivation of the personalities OF
their children will find that a bond
that neither time nor eternity can
sever holds their children to their
sides. And if that won't-nothing
else will. Love IS the touchstone
of life, the law ard the measure OF
values. Love is the force that draws
soul to soul. The home that is ruled
by love will be the seat of honor.
For it is the abode Of everything
that is honorable, respectable, worthy
Of obedience and Difference.
But to carry the principle into
it's broadest application we must
glance for a moment at the duty of
honor and obedience to law, civil and
moral. Here, as with the Individual,
the law must be worthy of honor.
The civil law to-day is not so highly
respected as it should be. From
all parts of Jul country we read of
lynchings, riots and miniature civic
wars all due to disrespect for law.
And yet the laws are largely at fault
and the enforcers of the law with
them. When a murderer, guilty be-
fore men and God Of heinous sin,
may use the law to cheat the law,
and prevent the execution of JUS
tice; when n man may buy off the
law that sends another citizen to
jail; when those who are sworn to
enforce the law neglect their duty;
we cannot say that individuals are
entirely to blame for lack Of defer
ence to The law. The laws should be
wise, sane, quick to act, equal in
melting justice to all offenders. Thus
only a it retain the respect of the
governed. And we on u part are
not to turn to wild Justice when
the laws are not to u taste, but
rather to the ballot box, there to see
to it that good laws and the right
men are set up ovc US to rule.
But all honor for law is bound up
with our early ideas and teachings,
and in the home should be found the
source of respect for law.