Los Angeles herald., 1909-02-21
TRUTHFULNESS


Asst week L began my letter to you
by replying to a question; this
week 1 shall reverse the proceed
ing and begin by asking one: Why do
so many Of you prefer the unfinished
story to the letters? This week we
have many, many more stories than
letters, and when I have announced
so timely a topic as that Of the birth
day anniversary celebrations of Lin
coin and Washington 1 am distinctly
disappointed to find you taking so lit
tie interest m it and devoting so much
to the stories.
After this week will probably make
some changes in the rule governing
these unfinished stories, so I hope every
one will look carefully next week and
see just exactly what is to be done.
You have all had sufficient expert
ence with rainy and stormy days re-
Gently to be able to write feelingly
upon the topic announced for this
week. 1 must tell you again, as I have
so often done already, that you need
not write from your own personal ex-
perience unless you particularly desire.
You can make up a story for the writ
ers' contest just as well as you do for
the unfinished story
The hmericks continue to be popu-
lar with all writers. and I am delight
ed with the success which we are
making with our drawing department.
In a very short time 1 may ask to
have some stories and poems illus
trated. From the exceptional work
which has been received I see no rea-
son why we should not have many
beautiful pictures in our Junior pages
without going outside the ranks of
Juniordom.
The one thing to be improved upon
in all these sketches is the ink which
is used. In another week 1 hope 10
have an advertisement in this paper
from a manufacturer who makes alb
Solutely black ink, an ink which will
bring out a black line in reproduction
and which will not run across the pa
per in dirty, muddy line.
The Birthday Calendar department
will be discontinued for the present, as
there is not space in these few pages
of ours to contain the rapidly increas-
ing letters and stories in the two older
departments. The young writer's will
all be welcomed in the other contests,
however, and perhaps later on we may
make room for them.
Now I want n a CnriOI1c word
to all by Juniors in regard to the habit
of truth telling.
1 was horror stricken the other day
to hear a woman who is intelligent
and we'll educated tell her daughter, a
child of 4, that she would give her
away to the gypsies if she did not eat
her supper. Now, do you, one of you,
suppose that the mother would have
given that baby away in such a case?
Well, / know that she wouldn't have
done it, and in a very little while the
child herself will know it, too. Con-
sequentIy the child will know that her
mother does not tell the truth. Now,
l cannot see whether or not you exag-
gerate in such matters, but l can 1T
least beg you not to tell your baby
brothers and sisters such terrible
things. Remember they have no pow
er to judge as you have, and do not
let them hear you tell falsehoods. /
would never expect a child of mine to
believe me in anything if 1 had once
told her an untruth, and 1 know you
ali want to retain the confidence and
trust of your smaller brothers and Sis
ters and to be worthy of it.
With all best wishes for you all.
AUNT LAURIE