The broad ax., 1915-09-18
Character
forming
In Youth.

character OF q man or woman IA Fixed
at six years Of age, thus putting the
formative period very early In the de-
YelOpment OF the child.
Most mothers do not believe this dc
tum or ignore II. as they intrust their
children to nurses more during those
first six years than at any other time.
There are. however, an Increasing
number Of women who realize that
good habits are more easily formed and
good Impressions more easily made In
very early childhood than later on. So
now careful mothers are arranging to
supervise as thoroughly as possible the
nurseries OF their babies and to take
an active share In the training % the
little ones.
One modern mother. though possess
Cd Of ample means, refuses to employ
q regular nurse. She takes entire
charge Of her two little children, q girl
Of four and boy OF two. This Is not
the result OF theory on her part, but
an outgrowth from her own experience.
Brought up IN luxurious household,
waited on ''hand and foot" by an at
tentive nurse. she was suddenly sent
or TO boarding school at the age OF
fourteen.
Il shall never forget" she says, my
terrible modification at not being able
70 dress myself properly or even TO
comb my own hair. used to cry my
self 70 sleep at night and dread get
ting mp I'm the morning TO encounter
that awful problem Of getting neatly
into my clothes"
Determined that her children shall
never be helpless. she has taught these
little mites 10 look after themselves
IN quite q wonderful way.
Some years ago Punch had a picture
Of two small boys and a young lady
asking one OF them. How old Is your
little friend. Tommy To which Tom
my replies, Il do not know. but / think
be must be pretty old. because he can
blow his own -noser'
Judged by this standard. the boy OF
two referred to above would be pretty
old" while the girl would be positively
aged. II has taken an inhnity OF pa
tience 70 get these children to the point
OF efficiency which they now enjoy, but
Il has certainly paid the mother for
al her trouble. Il Is much easier to
take a child and dress It than It is to
sit by and see II tumble itself into its
garments. These two children are SIN
bathed IN the tub. bur otherwise, as
the Scotch say, they sort themselves.
There are many practical details to
be considered In such work. Clothes
must be made simple. so as to offer as
few difficulties 10 little fingers as may
Be The faucets In the bathroom are
not only an obstacle to a child, but also
temptation to play with water and
mess clean frocks, 80 a washing ap-
paratus must be arranged.
The particular mother whose meth
DDS are quoted above obtained q kin
dergarten table such as that on which
the children play their games It has
the advantage Of being exactly the
right height and at the same time Of
being both solid and stable. Painted |
white this answered for q washstand- |
Then came the question OF utensils. |
stoneware was too heavy. and china.
though light enough 70 be easily han
died, was quickly broken By inexpert
little hands
The answer to this problem came |
from enameled ware. which b made |
nowadays In a number OF attractive |
colors. Pretty -enameled basins and
pitchers, not too large TO be lifted even
when full. make implements tbs chIl-
dren can safely manage. Soap dish,
toothbrush mug and sl0p pan complete
the outht. Nothing can be broken,
nothing Is heavy. and JET all ID clean.
freah and inviting.
The little girl worked her Initials on
her little face cloths In cross stitch.
and brother" win do the same when
sufncisntly advanced. Supper Is al
Ways eaten IN the nursery. ana these
tots set their own table. another kin
dergarten table. and their table uten-
sIis are also enameied ware IN attrae-
i've colors. 50 that cups and saucers,
plates and pitchers can be manipulated
without risk.
They are very earnest about this
tax OF setting table. and woe betids
tie child whose dishes are not set a
TIE proper order By the waitress o.
waiter Of the day!
Visitors say. How cunning. how
elsver tie dear llftis things arsP' but
not one IN q dozen realizes the work
and the patience that are pun "a the
frainine.
Rich win be fhs reward when tho
children are older. The indapehdence
hey have acquired win Be more val
liable 10 them than fortune. for 4
win b q fortune that cannot Be- Ioat.