El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1913-02-08
Bringing Up the Child
Most Responsibility Rests on the
Mother, but Father Has n
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lily Ella Wheeler Wilcox -

A BRIGHT woman named EIva D
Il KnIInrc- tal-ae ne To task for

/
10y Ella Wheeler Wilcox
4 BRIGHT woman named Elva D.
a Kellogg takes me to task for
L y some verses wherein woman as
the mother is accused of failing in
her duty.
Mrs. Kellogg quotes the final line Of
thes poem and her criticisms follow:
I'VE must better the mothers TO
better the race
Granted. But it will do no good
until the fathers have become nu-
man beings instead Of creatures lower
than animals Why not preach at the
men directy-Why not speak to this
generation, instead Of merely urging
mothers to make the next generation
of men what il should be? After all,
a mother can't do more than half any
way A mother may bring up a girl
alone quite creditably, but a father
must have a hand with the son. And
fathers are Sinking
Another side Of the question. Why
do men shirk fatherhOOd? Oh, 1 know
most every man wants to have children.
But after he gets them then What2
First his is the sexual delirium, then
the pleasure of anticipation, later real
plans and the JOY of possession, minus
the responsibility. For the mother,
fear, dread, pain, agony, worry, an ever
this be offset BY the pleasure Of pos
session?
I'VE mothers are working alone to
bring up our little men and women.
Ever since the time Of Adam man
has shifted responsibility Of every
thing except the bread and butter
side Of the question. All too often the
mother has her half Of this response
bility added to the other cares.
Yet your cry is for mothers to do
their duty better. What in the world
do you expect Of the men?"
Mrs. Rellog has evidently failed to
read many articles and verses in this
column which have dealt with the sub
Ject she desires discussed.
1t has often been urged that our pre-
paratory schools and colleges for young
men should include in the curriculum
a InOrOugn course In sex hygleuicS in
what is now known as eugenics: and
that married men and fathers should
be compelled by law to attend lectures
on these subjects at least three times a
year.
Schools Of Good Fatherhood" have
also been advocated As soon as
young boy is old enough to attend
school he should begin his preparation
IOr marrying and 1atherhOOd by being
taught the sacredness Of his body, and
the necessity to keep it clean and
strong and full of healthful vigor
The scientific facts regarding the
transmission of bad blood made i'm
pure by nicotine. alcohol, drugs or
sexual vices should be taught him by
teachers properly trained in such
knowledge Vice should be presented
to him from its dangerous physical
as well as from the moral stand
point
Self control should be taught every
child from the cradle up.
But disagree with the bright
woman when she says The mother
can do only half in bringing up a
child"
A mothers influence over child is
Just as much greater as her part in
creating the child is longer in time
than that of the father It is not the
mere sowing Of the seed which makes
a beautiful flower garden.
The caring for the ground in which
the seed is sown, and the wedding and
Iertllzlng and training of the plants
after they sprOut are what determine
their vigor and perfection
For three-quarters Of a year before
the human plant comes to the light the
mother is mOlding it and influencing It
with her thoughts. her habits and her
physical condition.
For a year after it is visible, its life
depends upon her, not upon the father;
and its first language. its first ideas,
Its first habits, are patterned upon the
maternal plan.
The new science Of eugenics new in
Its modern practical appli cation to So
cial problems) viii make a great
--e7G "a - -IC--S ~ men anu " otllrAA
regarding domestic life and marriage
relations
The advent Of women into medicine
is gradually bringing a change Of SEN
ttment, and viii eventually do away
with some old traditions. Particularly
the tradition that man cannot exer-
else control over his passions. and
that by nature he is so constituted
that his immoralities are justifiable on
the plea of health
Men physicians have fostered this
tradition in the masculine mind. But
it will pass with other worn out
theories, and q new and higher phil
Osophy will be the power of mental
suggestion and mothers will be taught
to use 1t with their children.
We must better the mothers to better
the race
Copyright, 1913. by the. Star Coz