New Britain herald., 1915-01-14
(Sidonie Matzner Gutenberg in New
 York Trihune.D

l NSluonlC NatEnef IfuCnDGTS Tn NCW l York Tribune)
 While eating luncheon with his mother one day Howard remark ed apropos of nothing in particular, that he wished ne could be like Sir Gala had. Mother was delighted but, of course, she did not let her pleasure be too apparent to Howard. Later , she told father, and he was delighted, i too. But father could not contain l his joy so easily, and casually ob- l~served, the following Sunday. that ne | knew where there was a nice picture | of Sir Galahad that might be suitable 1 for Towards room. This was just to draw the boy out, you under l stand.
 Howard was delighted with father $ 1 suggestion, but he volunteered noth- 1 ing further Father was at last driven to asking rather bluntly what ! Howard so admired in the famous i knight "Oh,' explained the boy, II wish I could be like Sir Galahad, and wear an armor and go around and fight people and kill 'em!' As Barbarous as Other Boys
 
 parents were at complete loss. Here they had been cher:shing the satis- fying delusion that their son was fired by lofty ideals, and suddenly they realized that Howard was just as barbarous and cruel as-as other boys of his age. It was more than disappointing.
 Every normal child is bound to al r;1v tn ideals that those elders have already outgrown But the only reason the latter are shocked seems to be the fact that they have forgotten ever having entertained the same ideals. For if they could only think back to the days when they longed for the careers of pirates or Indian squaWs, they would recognize that these com paratively crude ideals nevertheless represent real teachings toward the best and highest
 The first thing for parents to do is to guard against imposing ready made ideals upon their children, re- gardless of fit. The ideals of the child. if they are to be of any use in life, should be the results of his own experiences and thinking, the de-
 
 over. our ideals must be as fluid and as expansive as life itself. It is, therefore, out of the question to set up any finalitv as the aim of tho child's ambitions.
 Policeman, Ministers Sons Am
 bition.
 When the young son of minister announced that he intended to be a policeman. the mother tried to hide her chagrin in recognition of the fact that every individual has his limita- tions: and she tried to resign herself with the reflection that a policeman may be a useful member ,tof society But the father was, .Wdser--this time. He encouraged Donald to- emulate all the virtues of a policeman that the child was old enough to appreciate The mother had feared that this would fix Donald in the resolve: the father simply sought to take advan- tage of the temporary interest to es- tablish all the good habits that the situation would allow.
 Why should parents feel more pride and satisfa ctiOn when the child's am- l7tion turns toward the professions or finance than when it turns toward the more violent forms of human activity: There is really something uncanny about the child that jumps, mentally. from his building blocks to bank prcsi- 1ent or mayor without ever dreaming of being a motorman or jockey or conductor or plumber. Should your son declare his intention of becoming a judge you would no doubt be suffi- cientk pleased to show it, and your neishbors would not be long in finding it out. But should he set his heart on becoming a miner or a blicl<layer, you would probably discourage his further condolences and take pains to hide his ambitions from all your friends.
 Worth of Aspirations Judged by
 Child's Reason.
 But unless you know just what it is that is so attractive in the career of the judge or of the miner you are really not in a position to do very much that is helpful, If the judge moans to the child sitting on bench ard doing nothing, and living in a fine house with many attendants. the ideal is of very little moral value. If being Dricklayer means seeing useful real ity growing under the hand. it has great possibilities for moral develop ment
 Cant Laugh Ideals Away.
 In any case, the young persons ideals