The Washington herald., 1909-08-15

Hard is the pathway OF the American
child-the average American child. and
that so many American children grow
conceited. undisciplined, arrogant men and
women is not to be wondered at when
their early training is taken into con-
sideration.
Ny heart went out the other day 10 an
angeI-faced baby who, with her par
ents occupies the room next 10 mine
at the hotel where I am now live
ing. in the bad quarter OF an hour
only It was not paltry quarter Of an
hour. but two whole hours at least
when she was set upon and mall
treated. This delightful infant woke me
at exactly $50 q remember the hour,
for she interrupted me in a delicious
dream where a melting pair OF violet
eyes peered into mine) whereupon her
parents began playing with her as II
they were the same age. which would
have been a delightful thing TO hear at
any other time Of day.
They encouraged her to do all sorts OF
stunts She jumped of tho bed then
on egain, she battered the door between
our rooms che threw papa's boots
around. then papa and mamma played
tag with her when the trio screamed with
glee. i have been on a farm where I'M
the early morning hours every animal
on the place seemed TO endeavor TO make
more noise than all the other animals
within hearing distance. bat / never
heard a pandemonium equal 70 that the
angel-faced child and her parents made
on a certain Thursday before o'clock
a. m. My head felt Ike the morning
after" for the rest of the day.
When papa and mamma succeeded in
getting their baby wrought up 10 the
highest pitch Of excitement and her
nerves on the keenest edge. they both
began 10 dress her. The baby did not
want 10 be dressed she wanted 10 play.
She could not, would not understand
why her good times should be interrupted
by anything so prosaic as the making
Of a toilet and why papa and mamma
from the jolliest playmates should so sud
denly be converted into taskmasters and
bitter enemies, so she began 20 yell, and
she yelled until I thought her little lungs
would burst. while papa tried to comfort
her with soothing words.
Don't talk 10 Ec- you only make her
worse Don't talk 10 her. I say"
screeched mamma in that terrible stri-
dent twaug characteristic OF provincial
New England and Of some localities in
the West, too, for that matter. Indeed,
81 IS what IS accepted by strangers as the
American voice.
There baby, he quiet. be a good little
girl and papa viii take you 10 break
fast continued papa, unaffected by his
wife's commands.
Baby don't want her toos on" scream
ed the child, baby don't want no break
fast, and she continued the awful bawl-
ing
There. I told you" hollered the wife
IN key higher than the baby's. "youer
excitin' her so that she'll be sick" Then
eXasperated beyond control, IN spank
that yelling out OF you II you don't shut
up. she beloved
stop that, tell you" Numbered papa
and though the door separated us. could
almost see his face frow red" I won't
have my baby talked 10 Ike that. stop
stop, stop" as the mother went on. BY
this time the baby was almost in con-
wilson. but her parents forgot her for
the moment % wrangle among them
selves.
II won't stop" flung back the mother.
shes my baby as much as she's your s.
Mamma said If you'd let her alone she'd
come out of these tanTums all right.
and"
III have you know" interrupted the
husband that this child isn't your
mothers child. she's mine"
"IOu'er right for once. Tor she's got
your dreadful temper" Kissed mamma.
shut up. you're worse than baby, and
I'm goin' % whip her II she don't stop.
Do you hear that, baby. I'm goin' 70 whip
you II you don't stop"
Baby don't want 10 be whipped" sob
bed the child. enter auntieD
tnF fr D.. a. 81.
baby Come, baby, let auntie curl your
hair"
Baby don't want her hair curled. baby
baby. baby'-the poor child could say no
more. she was sobhing too bitterly.
Why Charles, why Mary. what ever IN
the world is the matter with baby?''
she is just devillsh," announced
Charles and Mary IN a chorus "and we
are goin' TO give her a good whipping"
, Please don't Let me try. Baby, baby
what DO you think auntle saw when she
Aame up the steps? Now. just what do YOU
think It was?" The baby let up a bit
with her sobbing. Baby, II was a
great big cat; a yellow cat. every bit
yellow baby, just Ike your curles that
you're going 20 let auntie make"-the baby
stopped sobbing and gave a deep. tired
sigh-'all yellow. baby. except its tail.
Just the very tip OF its tail and that was
DICK, as black as coal, baby"-and so
the story went on, and directly I heard
the dearest, sweetest childish voice ask
ing questions about that yellow cat.
When the battle ceased I stretched NY
self bit and then turned over on NV
side 10 enjoy the nap which had been so
ruthlessly disturbed by my nelghbors. and
as / dozed of I uttered thanks that IN
this world Of imbecile parents there was
a. "a afH al
common sense. and I awoke TO wonder
what could be expected Of a child who
was brought UP by people who could not
control themselves and who. looked upon
the poor little soul given into their
keeping as a plaything 20 amuse them
when they were I'm the mood and who.
after they had tired out their toy and
ravaged its nerves expected Il 10 I'm
mediately become sage member OF
society.
All the children In America happllv.
were not born I'm the same environments
as this child. but the majority OF them
are unfortunately placed. and II Is
marvel that they turn out as well as
they do. The average American mother |
and father look upon their children as |
being given them Tor their own pleasure |
and enjoyment, and are apt to overlook |
the fact that they owe these little ones
sacred duty Indeed, am inclined 90 |
think that selfshness Is the root Of all /
the evil the American child must suffer /
IT must have my children always around /
me- said a fashionable dame 20 me the /
other day. II cannot live without them. /
They add SO much to my pleasure" /
And so does you lap dog madame" /
/ thought. only your lap dogs morals 4
are not as much affected by the atmos- 4