The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-08-03

RED 10 an honest hafe-Vg or E2iIl 8
man, who earns only $50 a
week, writes me the Following interest
ing letter.
How much actual helping money
should we expect from our chiIdren2
How much should they Go Tor us with
out overburdeuiug themselves? That is
the last thing want them 10 do I am
rather Of the opinion that # you raise
them 20 be honest. self-supporJin men
and women, and they are not q burden
20 US when We are ord, that Is all we
should expect Ny husband bitterly CD-
poses this view. and says that II that is
all the benefit they are 10 be TO us, lie
would rather die now than 10 continue
shaving for them perhaps TO- twenty
years more, and then have nothing IN
the end
The responsibility. as between parents
and children, naturally rests UBOn me
parents 10 the greater extent Having
thrust life upon a child, IL Is. or course
the father and mothers duty TO DO
everything possible Tor that child N
common fairness the parents are 5ouLl4
tc work for il, 10 feed u ana c-o-LS ~
and 90 care for IL In every way 70 tL-e
best Of their ability no naltct no"
many sacrifices are entailed thereby
The Greed Of Parents
In all the world there is nothing more
auDaIIina, nor saGder than that there
are many parents who regard their chill
drcn simply as assets, little slaves who
can be turned into money edrleTs. The
greatest dlflCuIty that IS found IN en-
forcing the child labor law comes not
from The greed OF Eeart-csS employers,
but the ETeeu of neart-ess fathers and
mothers who are willing To see their
a-gn flesh and blood mutt lated, dvvar1ed-
s-uuted mentally and. physically. in cot
ICn factories and glass works and coal
pits for the sake of the few collars the
poor little baby hands can bring IN
Any factory inspector VIII tell You
that parents lie about the ages of their
children in order 10 put them To work
before their time and that these pa
rents are seldom driven 70 this by
want. but simply by an avarICe so great
they are willing TO coin their children S
happiness and youth ana all Llat LAe
future might mean TO them, into gold
This IS one side OF me child Labor
question. but L is far enough from being
the side presented by my correspondent
who represents the LOVING, c91iScltl--
riOGS poor parents anxious 10 90 their
duty by their children. and Yet who
feel rightly enough, that IS soon as the
they should contribute 70 the family
support
Sacrifices on Both Sides.
is a golden mean, and while it is an in
fQuit0us thing for parents TO turn their
children into mere mC1ey-makinE ma
chimes neither Is il right that the
father and mother should make all the
sacrifices and should work themselves
70 death 10 feed and CllLhe a lot OF
strappinE youngsters who are amply
able TO take care Of themselves
The sense of family loyalty. Of IN
selfshuess. or duty to others, cannot be
Impressed too early on child s MIND
There IS no better way 90 do this than
70 make the boy or girl. as soon as he
OF she begins TO earn money. feel that
he or she must contribute 10 the sup
port OF the home and pay back some
OF -he money that has been spent on
him or her
A great many uarents are afraid OF
throwing responsibility on young ShOul-
ders. but IL IS this very sense Of re-
sponsibili-v that makes strong men and
women GE- hoy who saves Up his
pennies because he wants To help father
with the rent OF % buy mother a nice
from later on in life The girl who
brings her pay envelope unopened home
to mother on saturday night Is never
the Dirful creature that We see wal zlI2S
the streets In TaUd-E f7neTy-
I believe. myself. that -lEGepen6euc Is
the very foundation of all character
and that the most important thing that
you can teach q child Is 70 stand alone
on its own feet and 10 take care Of
itself with its own hand. and its own
head There IS no easier way Of inoCu-
latinE this lesson than 20 show the child
how much It's food and cloths cost and
that q s soon as II begins 10 make money
e must pay for these
If You can make n child feel that Il IS
a shameful thing fo- an abie-bodied in
dividual TO be supported by auother-t0
be a parasite upon that o-her-you viii
have done much TO insure that boy or
girl becoming a good citizen and Of
some use IN the world IT S. the parents
who have not the nerve to refuse TO sup
port idle and lazy children who are re-
EDOlSi1lr for the drunken l0afe-s Of 50
ciety- These VIII not work as long as
+hey are sure % food and lodging at
home but II they were turned out Of
doors, and had To choose between the
alternative Of labor OF starvation they
would work
Another argument for making children
contribute their quota 20 the family SUD
ply IS that it calls out ali that is hest
In girl and boy TO make them feel