The Washington herald., 1915-10-28

Every mother feels the need of training
her child in correct habits OF speech. Few
Of us but try to teach our little ones the
right use OF words, and even though we
may not have had the advantages or a
college education ourselves. We insist
that our children learn to use good Ian
suaxe. Many OF the letters / receive
from our club members are on this sub
Ject. How can ! teach my girl not to
use slang? How make my boy ashamed
TO swear? One Of the worried mothers
wrote me recently:
Dear Aunt Chstty-I am writing to
ask you to tell me what / am to do. We
recently bought a home In a new part OF
town. In a sparsely settled neigh hborhood.
and our children have very few play
mates here. We did not take that into
consideration at all when we bought. But
there are only some ignorant people liv-
ing near and our boys will play with
their children. Now I notice they are
picking up slang. coarse words and even
swear words. and when I reprovs than
for using them they seem to think I
want them to be too nice. Do you think
they will get over II in time?''
think. dear mother, you will have to
handle your situation very firmly. I am
a firm believer I'm the old saying that
Evil communications corrupt good man.
ners." / shoulds make II impossible for
my boys to associate with the children
you speak of. xtnder no circumstances
allow your children TO go to them nor
them to come to yours. Once they form
the habits Of speech you complain of no
amount Of training or example on your
part will overcome the tendency to use
the wrong word. the improper express
sion. have seen the careful work OF
educated mothers undone forever by con-
slant association with companions of low
tastes and unworthy standards.
A friend Of mine, man who stands
well In the educational world. told me
once that he had had all his life TO strug-
gle against the habit Of incorrect speech
formed in him in his babyhood by a
nurse. His mother. he said. was imposed
upon by the woman, who was ''mealy
mouthed," he called It. in the presence
Of the family. but who used shockingly
coarse expressions when alone with her
little charge or in talking with the other
servants.
TO this day" said this good man. the
coarse word, even the swear word,
comes first TO my consciousness under
stress OF excitement. and though ] have
gained sufficient self-control never to let
them pass my lips. they are there. and
feel contaminated by the knowledge that
they are. wish IN one OF your talks you
would tell the mothers NJ vonr clubs that
they cannot be too particular about
teaching their children correct habits OF
speech"
do not believe this is an isolated case,
dear mothers. think that the bad word
becomes ingrained in the consciousness
of many a child and lies there IN the
his life long. just as this
man confessed was the case with him.
So II your child has companions OF this
sort your simple duty is to separate him
from them. No consideration for the
feelings" of the others must prevent
your doing II. OF course tact will dictate
the kindest way to do II so as to give as
little oftense as possible. but do 1t you
must.
Then you must concentrate your efforts
on counteracting the bad habits already
begun. by constant practice in correct
speech. There is no surer mark of re-
finement and culture than good language.
You may have wealth and position and
fine clothes. but II you use bad language.
you carry the stamp of inner coarseness
where everybody may read 1t at first
sight
Habits of courteous speech Of correct
speech. are formed by daily practice In
the home In talking with your children
form the habit OF discussing expressions.
pronunciations. the real meaning OF
words and their correct application. Get
a good dictionary. II you haven't one.
and form the dictionary habit Look up
every doubtful word. and dwell upon its
right use. II is really very interesting
once you make a practice of doing this,
and the children will soon begin to enjoy
il, and. as I need not Point out I am
sure, will grow up with the habit of cor
rect speech so firmly fixed that they can
never overcome II.