South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1916-04-14
Tea Table Talks
WHERE Wild 1T LEAD Us TO?
by May De Witt Talmage

WHERE WILL 1T LEAD Us TO?
The Child, the Leader Of Civ
ilization," was the subject of a ser
mon delivered by rabbi on Sunday.
The child's health, its opportunity
it receives. so il is not tyraunized
over or exploited. is the mirror OF
civilization. and the measure if its
progress" he said.
Children of today may be thank
full they were not born a few genera
tions earlier Some Of us wish that
some OF the modern boys and girls
had little more Of the discipline
Of the days gone by when they were
ruled and were not the rulers.
came across Mrs. Wesley's code
of laws for children the other day.
She left them written down for the
benefit OF succeeding generations.
Each child was expected and reQuir-
ed 10 commemorate it's fifth birthday
by learning the entire alphabet by
heart. To insure this all important
matter, the whole house was impress
sively set in order the day before
everyone's task was assigned to him,
and Mrs. Wesley, issuing instructions
that no one should penetrate into
the sanctuary while the solemn or
deal was in progress, shut herself up
for six hours with the unhappy
child and unfiinchingly drove the
letters into its bewildered brain.
How different is all that from the
kindergarten, or the Montesorri
method by which the modern child
absorbs it's education. While we
are glad the time is past when II
was a misdemeanor for girls to chat
ter or mothers to lower their dignity
by playing with their children, we
are thankful the days Of spartan dis
cipline are over, that the day for in
innate connection between parent
and child has taken its place. But
if the child is to be the leader OF
civilization. there is much need for
correction.
We have just finished with Baby
Week" Why not have a Children s
Day. where efficient men and
women who have theories. and those
who have had practice In the bring
ing up Of children, can amalgamate
practice and theory.
Mothers are held accountable fol
almost everything. They are blam.
ed If things do not go right: some
times they are praised for what they
do. Between the rigid discipline and
training Of the boys and girls oil
former days there is a tremendous
difference TO the relaxed condition:
Of today which in some cases has
made spoiled, disobedient children.
1t was interesting TO read that the
president Of one Of our greatest col.
| leges threw the limelight on the evi
effects OF all this lax discipline wher
he said, the other day. LAS great a:
the danger OF military unprepared
ness. greater still is the danger bre
on our love Of material comfort.
and satisfaction. The great danger
/ lies in the fact that our young meI
| should have on all sides OF then
| comforts and pleasures which make
| them consider themselves alone
Many OF our youths are Indifferent
TO everything under heaven excep
how they can maintain their com
fort and convenience They hav,
done or experienced nothing tina
would make them. ready for servc'
and sacrifice"
If. as has been said the child re
! fleets the best OF civilization tina
exists, and we acknowledge this Il
the children's age, where is 1t soint
| e.