El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-08-22

II WISH these words, by one of Amer
ics's most gifted and distinguished
\ physicians and metaphysieians,
could be written in letters of gold >and
hung where every mother and teacher
In the land might read them daily.
Women are pushing forward their
claims for higher recognition, everywhere
and every day; and women are succeed
ing in almost all the arts, professions
and trades formerly pursued by men
exclusively; vet women are almost UNI
versally failing to be the best mothers
possible.
You who read these words may take
exception to such a statement. Yet,
employ your leisure hours the next week
in looking about YOU critically and dis
DassiOnstely for really perfect, OF even
s'near. perfect mother of BOYS and girls
OF that embryo age. from 8 to IA.
Children Show Mothers Teaching.
It is during that period children show
forth the training and teaching which
has come to them from close assOcla-
ton with their mothers.
We again quote from DR.. Parkyn:
ffThere are great possibilities in a new
wooden barrel provided it Is empty. 1t
Is very easy to fill 1t with syrup or kerO-
sene. or any other liquid. But If a bar
rel be filled first with kerosene 1t IS
very difficult to so completely get nd
of its impressions on the barrel that
the barrel can be used afterward Tor
syrup, the BARRE, as it were, having
formed an suggestion which Is hard
to overcome.
"a young child's mind is very much
ike a barrel. so far as its first impress
sions are concerned. Its mind Is an
empty thing. waiting to be filled with
any kind of impressions, and the i'm
presions of childhood are by far the
most lasting.
Developing Habits
childhood is the most favorable time
to develop the little habits we carry
through life, and the Importance Of Civ
ing attention to these little habits can
not be too strongly impressed upon the
minds of parents of young children So
many parents believe that if they teach
their children. what is right and wrong,
from moral and ethical point of view,
clothe them and send them to school:
they have done all that is required OF
them, and that the children will do the
rest themselves and make success N
life"
Mothers of culture and education are
to be found all about us who have al
lowed their little sons to pass through
the formative period of childhood with
out one distinguishing trait or habit
of refined. considerate manhood, and
who consider the DruSQueneSS ana DOOr-
ISL department of their offspring as nat
ural phases Of boyhood. which will be
eventually outgrOwn. In America, chill
dren are allowed to occupy an unnat
ural position IN the home, and are per-
mitted to demand favors of their elders,
where foreign children gently request;
to dispute, and fatty contradict, where
others would only question or remain
silent. and to sit IN the presence of their
parents and grandparents without wait
ing for permission or observing whether
anyone is disconnected by their con-
duct.
Mothers permit their little sons to
interrupt conversation; to enter room
noisily, without removing their hats; to
be first at the table. without showing
the courtesy Of seating the mother OF
sister or guest, and to air their ideas
and opinions aggressively IN the pres
ence of older people.
The very greatest work woman can
do on earth is to glIide and train the
mind and manners OF a little child into
gentleness, kindness, courtesy. consid-
Grafton, politeness, respect and reverence
for whatever IS great and good, and to
teach the embryo man or woman those
small refinements of department. which
mean so much IN life No matter what
other work a mother NAV be doing
in the world. If she is neglecting this
work, which Is the work God has given