The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1915-08-19
4 MOTHERS INFLUENCE.

In the training of children there Is no
influence more potent than that of the
mother. She is brought into the most IN
innate relation with the children at the most
unreasonable period of their lives, and II
she is gentle and just the memory OF the
care she took of them lasts in the children's
minds throughout their lives. The fathers
authority may be respected, but that of the
mother is most willingly accepted. OF the
lives of most men we know little or moth
ing, but of those who have so distinguished
themselves that the smallest details of their
early training and experiences have been
sought out, very large majority exhibit
traces of motherly training having great
influence upon the conduct Of sons. The
mother governs usually and properly,
through the affections; the father more
often by force or threats of punishment.
Men are good upon compulson only while
the compulson lasts or when there is dread
of exposure to punishment. But men are
good at all times when they are guided by
right principles instilled in them by a low
ing mother. The boy who is restrained by
fear of punishment from his father if he
should be detected in the commission of
some offence will take the chances OF de-
lection sometimes. The boy who thinks OF
his mother, and what she would feel or say
or think if he should go wrong, runs little
risk of falling under temptation. Ii he
should be detected in the one case he could
stand the punishment; in the other the
sufferer would not be himself so much as
one whom he loves. In the one case the
only bond to hold him to right living is fear
of punishment which he may brave; in the
other he has to stifle his conscience ano
consent to bring sorrow to one who has
nourished and cared for him. The mere
existence of affection between mother anc
child is safeguard in the latter case
What would mother say? is query tha
has saved many girls and boys from wrong
courses. They all know what good mother
would say, and if they sin at all they mus
do so in the face of such knowledge. A
gentle, kindly, sympathetic mother ma,
shape the destiny of her children. He
influence extends far beyond the age o
maturity; that of the father terminates a
general rule at a fixed date. It is, Q
course, possible for the father to assum
with his children the relations Of a mother
but as general rule the father is too niue!
occupied as the bread winner and in vari
Gus social duties to become the companion
or friend of his children, especially durin!
their early years. Rightly or wrongly tn
mother alone is brought into close relation
with the children during the formative pc
Rod of their lives, and they learn to low
her with far different feeling from tina
which is inspired by the father. TIL
mothers influence becomes, therefore
much more potent than that of the father
He may be obeyed as matter of duty, bu
the mother is obey because she is lovee
Both have authority, but the mother has
addition the claims of deep affection. Henc
the influence of the mother, if wisely ex
ercised, is greater than that of the farthe
in the formation Of character, and it is a
influence for good throughout the life {
the man who has been blessed by an inte
ligent and affectionate mother. Long ate
he has reached maturity the son of a GOO
mother remembers her precepts, keeps HI
memory as guide, and exhibits in his uE
right life mothers influence for good.