The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-12-02
Brought Up More Carefully,
But Training Ceases With
Long Dresses.
NOT TAUGHT TO
CONSIDER OTHERS
Erring Mothers Wonder Why Their
Boys and Girls Do Not
Respect Them.

When Anne asked me the other day
why did not write more about children
I replied because IL was too dangerous
II know a number Of mothers all of
whom are more or less blessed with
olive branches" I explained. II l were
to say anything which was the reverse
Of complimentary about children they
would think I had in mind their own
particular youngsters, and diplomatic
relations would Immediately become
very strained between as, and 7 cannot
AFFORD 70 lose my friends the matrOns.
You might start out by explaining
that no personal illusions were intend
ed, and that all your horrible examples
were drawn from books and not from
life suggested the practical Anne.
SO / might" / returned. And so J
90 IL is understood herewith that MOTH
ing 1 say has personal application.
Children Different Nov.
It is generally admitted by everyone
except perhaps the children and their
mothers-that children are not what
they once were, In other days, tradt-
ton says. youngsters were seen and mol
heard; were cOntented with little; were
Emiable and polite t" a degree. and sell
dom flung themselves upon the floor and
anything which was not handed to them
o. a silver salver at once.
The children Of the day, alas. are not
such models OF department II is quite
true that babies are better trained now
that they are not rocked, and are stern
~ reproved when they seek consolation
in suTeputiously sucking an minutes
imal finger. But after the baby stage
is passed Generalization rapidly takes
place
The child in the average household is
the only really important thing ia it.
/ took luncheon with a friend the
other day, an old friend who does not
change the routine OF her home because
am in it. All the children at the
table were served before the grOwn-ups,
because their mother said, they made
such a fuss IL they were not
They don't come 70 the dinner table.
OF course. and this is really their meal
50 / don't think ] ann wrong in letting
them take precedence over us at it,
she remarked, as the nurse cut I'D the
food for one little one, the maid per
formed a like office for another, the
mother assisted the thtrd. and the
creamed salmon waved colder and
colder.
Il heard from ISABEL the other day."
said I. aprOpOH nothing.
Who's Isabel mJther2" inquired the
eldest of the three children.
Not really2' asked the mother de-
lightedly. What did she say?'
Hopeful Is Inquisitive.
Mother, who IS Isabel?'' demanded
The eldest hope.
she said she hoped To be here"
1 began, and then L paused because the
chorus who is IsabeIg" had become
so lnsistent from all the children that
my weak voice could not be heard.
Isabel" explained the mother, lis
your third cousin. No, none Of you has
girls. Yes, she viii stay here part OF
the time during her visit. NV, keep
quiet and let LeOnOre talk. Did she
say whether Mabel would come with
her2''
who's Mabel, mother?" asked the
eldest OF the youngsters. Please tell
me who Mabel is. 1 don't want 10 walt
minute, want 10 know now, Who
IS Mabel2 is she little girl? VIII she
pay with meH Where does she hYe'
Who IS Mabel2"
Now, this is a fair sample Of the con-
versstion that took place at that table
during the luncheon hour. Later when
the little pagans had been banished 10
the nursery their mother commenced TO
talk about them. such dear children, -
said she, "and so much admired. Lett
tias little ones are simply unbearable.
y
in the front hall, in the drawing-rOOm,
on the stairs. My children are not per
mitted 20 play all over the house. They
know that the nursery Is the place for
their possessions and they keep them
there"
TT would be a pity il they hadn't one
virtue" I mutteTed. but when my host
ess asked me what I had said ] replied
Nothing OF consequence and changed
90 not think I should like a prig-
Eish Chtid-if / ever met one-but II
would be an abiding source of SatisfaC-
ton to most OF Us, 1 am sure, II the
children we met had some sort OF re-
spect for their elders and some regard
for the comfort OF those about them.
To my benighted mind II seems that
children are raised to think a great deal
more about themselves than about any
one else.
Selfish From the Cradle.
They are allowed TO be selfish from
their cradles, and when they arrive at
years OF discretion their mother weeps
because they show SO little consideration
for her comfort
The modern mother, who is most care
ful that her infant shall be started in
life on scientific prinCiples-careful THAI
he sEell rot be rocked, that he shall be
fed a certain quantity at certain inter
his surroundings hygienic-is the very
one who later allows him TO become a
selfish little monster, bad-manusred and
anuOy1ngly Eelt-satisfed-
LEONORE CALVERT.