The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1909-07-22

HLAI.
In the animal world, play is we'll
nigh universal. 1t is especially MOTTO
able in horses, cattle, shtep and In
the dog and cat tribes. In all these
1t beginS very early in life, continues
with greater OF less zeal thru the
growing period and decreases, often
disappearing entirely, with advancing
years.
EDUCATIONAL VALUE.
That play has an educational value
in the lower animals is plainly evil
dent, tho the training 1t gives has
more reference to wild, than to do
nestle life.
Colts run, kick, make sudden swift
starts and turns, trot with head up,
eyes looking alertly in all directions.
No better exercise could be prescrib-
ed for activity. strength, endurance
and alertness. Fortunately these
qualities are az servicable to man as
they were to the horse in the wild
state.
The play OF young lambs consists
mainly in following a leader, jumping
bitches or other distractions and stop
ping in close formation. This prepar-
ed them for escape from their enem-
les, the leader only having to look
out for distractions, the others taking
their cue from him, following blind
ly. When flight is impossible keeping
together in a close bunch is their best
protection.
ANIMALS OF PREY.
The instinct Of animals Of prey leads
them to engage In such exercises as
will best prepare them to catch and
slay their victim Who has not been
entertained and enlightened by watch
ing a kitten spring for the mothers
tail which is kept waving for its es-
pecial benefit. See it tense its mus
cles and get its claws ready for the
supreme momentl What better les
sons could be given to an aspiring
mouser?
But the kitten is not entirely de-
pendent upon its mother for material.
Any small object that moves, or
that it can move, as a ball OF yarn,
a dangling string OF even a moving
flash of sunshine will put 1t into ac-
ton and viii afford means to exercise
its cunning.
In addition to catching their prey
cats must practice the noble art Of
self defense, both from their enemies
and from hostile members OF their
own kind, and 50 their education in
this respect is not lacking. The brood
engage = in playful bouts in which
every phase of real fight is initial
ed The aspiring warrior works him
self into a frenzy, springs upon his
foe. pins him to earth, and attempts
to seize him by the throat. The one
attacked is in no wise discouraged by
being under. He turns upon his back
and uses every weapon in his posses
sion. with great vigor. Both are care
full not to inflict any injury. The mo-
Their cat often takes a hand in this
kind of training, but knows well how
to stop it when she has had enough
The play OF young dogs differ from
that of cats, to the same extent as
their methods Of pursuing and catch
ing their prey differ. Instead OF stalk
ing. crouching and springing. they de-
pend upon speed and endurance
throw ing their victim and cutting It's
throat, or otherwise inflicting mortal
injury Their play with each other,
tho Invariably harmless. is a perfect
imitation of the methods to be en-
ployed when later they must secure
their own living. Like the cats, they
must also learn to do battle with
their own kind and so frequently
engage in playful fight, in which
every trick and vantage point OF the
full grown warrior is exercised,
MAN A PLAYING ANIMAL.
The human animal probably exceeds
all others in its tendency 10 play. IL
Is almost safe to say. that man, from
the cradle to the grave likes to en-
gage in some form of amusement.
The cares and sorrows of life some
times weigh so heavily that but
little trace of playfulness is manifest
but tie exception only proves the
ruie.
The play of young children is as
spontapeous as that Of other animals,
but is vastly more varied, complex
ahc more general in its forward look
irg.
LIVING OVER AGAIN THE EARLY
EXPERIENCES OF THE RACE.
Certain students of child life ad-
vance the idea that each individual
must live over again in brief the his
tory OF the race, going thru each stage
of progress In the proper order. Thus
children go thru the pottery stage,
making mud pies and moulding clay