Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1909-04-29
THE PARENTS MEETING
On Last Thursday Evening Had Good
ATTENDANCE and Interesting Program

Arthur Farquhar, president OF the
club presided aud made the following
brief address, indicating clearly the
purpose OF the club and the Importance
OF the work:
MRS FARQUHAR'S ADDRESS
FRIENDS:-We are glad to see you
here this evening, and we most heartily
welcome you. We feel that we meet in
q common cause, that our interests
are mutual. The work that we are
endeavoring to do is fast becoming IA
state wide work, national wide work,
yes an International wide work. These
meetings are open to everyone who is
Interested in the cause in which we
work, and to explain the object OF
our work we will take Just minute
or two, for we feel that this explana-
ton is due you in order that we may
come to mutual understanding.
PURPOSE, To guard the interests of
childhood, to provide for the best
possible conditions for physical, NOR
al and mental development is the
sole purpose OF the Mothers Congress
IMPORTANCE: No graver responsible
ty rests on the men and women OF any
generation than the nurture OF the
children. Every other trust pales be-
fore the divine trust imposed upon us
in moulding the character of immortal
beings. Not one of these little ones
is unimportant In the eyes Of the
Divine Father, who has for each
place and use, and whose love ex-
tends TO the poorest and the lowliest
Not one should be unImportant In our
eyes, and the message of this century
is study the needs Of childhood, Pro-
tect the children and guide them TO the
best and noblest performance of duty
in all the relationships OF life. Life
without purpose, with no vision ahead
of the work to be done, the goal to be
reached, never attained the heights to
which it Is capable. To teach the child
rem that character Is what counts, thai
to do and serve are greater than all
material possessions, that to be brave
and true and fearless, to live for the
right, to be pure and unseliish, and to
carry these Relationship s OF life. wheth-
er In the home or business or public
service, that Is the greatest ideal we
can instill into the minds OF child
hood, for what the boy admires, to
that the youth aspires and the man
acquires.
DOCTOR BURNSIDE'S ADDRESS
We can give but brief outline OF
the excellent address delivered by
Doctor Charles T.. Burnside upon the
" Meaning and Causes OF Fatigue.
Nervousness, Irritability and Unruli-
ness in Children of School Age"
For the purpose of discussion he
called the first six years OF the child's
life infancy, the second six childhood
and tie third six as adolescence. The
brain grows more during the first two
years than in all the rest of life and
for this reason normal, healthy devel-
opment OF the nervous centers de-
mands quiet rest, peaceful surround
ings, and freedom from everything
which causes excitement or undue
stimulation. Romping and playing
With very small children, stimula ting
them to laughter and exciting them by
sights, sounds and movements until
they shrek with apparent delight, may
be a source OF amusement TO the fond
parents but works great injustice to
the children. How many sleepless
nights are caused In this way no one
will ever know.
The period of childhood Is one dur
ing which there Is a change from
bundle of instincts to bundle of hab-
it's At this time he Is like the wild
creature of the woods and IL is as cru
ell to confne the activities OF young
children as it is those of the squirrels
and the birds. 1t has been said that
IL god made man out OF dust, he made
the boy out of dust and electricity. So
it is the electricity that constitutes the
boy problem. The "yell" OF a boy Is
just as necessary to his development
as the tail is to the development OF a
tadpole. Surgery should not be used
ia either case. III we take out of the
boy the desire to play, make a noise,
have shows, to experiment, run, whis-
tie and camp out, We are using sur
gerry instead of simple hygiene. There
are many causes for nervousness at
this age but IL is probable that indi-
gestion is the most prolific.
The period of adolescence is the one
in which the boy most needs friendship
and guidance. Unless properly in
structed many Of them form habits that
undermine their their health and short
en- their lives. AT this time the latent
element in the boys nature bursts into
activity, fills him with strange impuls-
es and places him in new world.
Doctor Merrill says that he knows OF
no environment that is able to make
boys soul invulnerable to evil, but
the factor that can most surely safe.
guard him against misuse OF physical
function Is proper physical instruct.
ion. 1t Is well to remember that ado
descent impulses IL not restricted NAV
run riot and project the soul into an
eternity of remorse
Boys may be divided into three class
es: The normal bad boy; the abnor-
NAL bad boy; and the unfortunate bad
boy. The physical growth of a boy
often has much influence on his con-
duct He may be drowsy and torpid |
Nothing is doing. He idles about the |
street before and after school. And
under these conditions may be easily |
led into bad career The cause may
often be traced to errors in diet, hours |
OF sleep or wrong habits. II Is easier |
to prevent the development OF evil in |
Q dozen boys than TO cure IL In one. |
And right here lies the value of work !
with boys in clubs, where they may
have the value OF adult friendship.
Short addresses wer made by Prot |
Mantz, Mayor Spencer, Rev. A. b.
Miller, Rev. Frank Naples, Rev. A.
A. Mitchell and Attorney Graham.
Light refreshments we're served and
half honr enjoyed socially before leav-