Evening star., 1911-01-15
Continued from page 10


brides. This led Punch to enter caveat
against certain familiar initials obtaining
the following acceptation:
B. A. Blatantly Argumentative.
M. A. Moderately Affectionate.
B. c.. Barely Connubial.
Ii. B. Loves Lots of Bridge.
If such degrees are to be indeed conferred
on brides, they will be more likely to stand for
B. A. Bread Artist.
M. A. Matrimonially Able.
B. G. Best Cook.
LII. B. Loves Lots of Babies.
In Pittsburgh there is the Carnegie School
for Mothers, with four-year course. l
don't know what their degrees stand for.
Improving the Little Ones Health
THERE is word that we hear good
pose that physical, mental, and moral de-
fects will gradually decrease as we study
this science.
Take, for instance, the matter of needless
blindness (obhthalnia neonatornm, it is
called), the trouble that causes half the
blindness in the world, which can be cured
by dropping solution of nitrate of silver
into baby's eyes during the first three
days of its life.
Crede of Leipzig, the celebrated obste-
trician, discovered this cure as far back as
thirty years ago; but it remained for Helen
Keller, working through the New York
State Department of Health, to make the
distribution of these silver solution outfits
free to every doctor in the State of New
York. Other States are following the ex-
Leipzig illuminates also all the dark corners
nf n,1r we hone
to see an end of needless blindness, or the
beginning of the end. This curse that was
laid on the innocent because of the guilty
is about to be lifted. Thus does man COM
bat even the curses of the gods.
Ellen Key, who is a wise woman of Scan
dinavia, quotes in her book the following
dialogue from "The Lions Whelp" between
an older and younger man:
THE OLDER MAN-"The next century will
be the Century of the Child. just as this century
has been the Woman's Century. When the
child gets his rights. morality will be perfected.
Then every man will know that he is bound to
the life he has produced with other bonds than
those imposed by society and the laws You
understand that man cannot be released from
his duties as father. even if he travels round
the world1 A kingdom can be given and taken
away; but not fatherhood."
THE YoUTH-"I know this
Inns dialogue supplies Ellen Key with
title to her book, 1.-The Century of the
Child" The first right that she gives to the
child is to select its own parents; in other
words, The supreme right of the child that
it shall not be born in discordant mar
rage"
The second right she gives to child is
the right to home. In her chapter on
"Homelessness, the homelessness of peo-
pie with homes, shows the real home
and the artificial makeshift.
"A good home is always cheerful" says
Ellen Key; its affection real, not senti-
mental. No time is wasted in it by preach
ing about petty details, or pressing. Mother
and sister do not look shocked when the
small boy tells funny story or uses strong
language. Liveliness, want of prudery,
which can be combined, SO far as the femi-
nine part of the household is concerned,
with purity of mind and simple nobility,
are characteristics for which there can be
no substitutes.
Thoughtful people" she goes on, talk
good deal about personality; but they
are, nevertheless, filled with doubts when
their children are not just like all other
children; when they cannot show in their
offspring all the ready made virtues required
by society. And so they dull their children,
repressing in childhood all the natural in
stincts which will have freedom when they