New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-06-25

bread Mother" he asked presently, why is
that part II the egg yellow"
Because the chickens eat the nice yellow corn
meal. my dear" came the ready answer Leonard
was apparently satisfied, and the conversation
drifted.
Later. when the children we're all away, one OF
the visitors. who had overheard the child's ques
ton and the mothers explanation, asked Mrs
Hartwell, "Why did you tell Leonard that the
cornmeal makes the yolks Yellow
because" replied Mrs Hartwell, in dog
matte tono Of voice, whenever a child asks
question you must give him a definite answer,
without any hesitation whatever" This seemed
to leave no room for argument, but little Mrs.
CAN'T persisted. "But your answer was not true
one-you don't really believe what you told him,
do you?"
NC my DEAR" and Mrs. Hartwell was evidently
peeved; but Leonard is only two years old, I'D
it is better for him to get this answer than for
him TO lose his confidence in his parents
That is an interesting point of view. Hardly
anything IS more important in the development Of
the chd's mind than TO retain his confidence in
his parents. But cannot help wondering
whether Mrs. Hartwells principle of answering
all questions definitely and unhesitatingly is
likely TO insure the permanence of the child's
confidence. On the contrary, there Is hardly any
thing better calculated TO undermine that conf
dence than that positive and Undertaking tone
unsupported by genuine knowledge or understand
ing
It Is quite clear that people who speak with
emphasis and self-assurance TO the helpless child
that depends upon them for information and
guidance are the ones who speak with emphasis
and sef-assurance to the older children and 70
tie oldest. When one of US older people dis
covers the inaccuracy the unreliabity of the
information thus positively dispensed, come to
look upon Mrs. Hartwell and all her tribe as
bluffs" But the young child does not discover
that he is being imposed upon for long time,
and he may retain his innocent confidence.
Sooner or later, however, the child's confidence
will be lost, for he will discover not only the par
ent's ignorance, but also the parents dishonest
pretence.
That this pretence Of onniscence Is not essen
tia to the parents position Of authority has been
abundantly demonstrated by those who have dealt
simply and sincerely with their children. As the
child becomes older his respect for older people
will come to depend on his faith in their genuine
and not upon his awe at their wide range
Of information. The child needs quite as much
to learn that it is impossible for person to
know everything as he does to get the right an
swer" TO as many of his questions as possible
and he does learn it; that, quite apart from
other considerations, honesty is the best policy
for parents as well for grocerymen.
Young Newton presented with one OF thoos
wire puzzle contraptions that seem TO delight The
hearts of all young boys. and he was absorbed in
its mysterious loops and links. When mother came
home he asked her to try to remove the little ring
without bending the big ring; but mother, who
rad no interest in those things begged TO be ex-
cused on the ground that she was very stupid
about puzzles" Aside from the unwise choice Of
words the mothers plea had no effect whatever
upon the chd's regard for her. II had been
part Of his education, as II should be part OF
every chd's education, 10 learn that no person Is
perfect, that no one knows everything or is capa-
bic Of everything. Moreover. he had learned, as
every child should learn, that there are many ex-
ceent and admirable people who are lacking in
this or that art, in this that talent. We cannot
all-not even our parents-play all the nstru-
ments Of the orchestra. We cannot understand
all the languages. We do not remember all the
mythologiss and all the histories. nor all tho
plays Of Shakespeare. And yet We may BE- decent
And sensible and useful pasn and Uomsn,