The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-03-23
DIR. THRANE TALKS
ON BABY DAY
CONTINUED from last week.

CONTINUED from last week.
Better baby contests are of value
on account of interest they arouse
in hygiene and dietetics, and by
bringing to light many defects which
have not been noticed by the par
ents. The value Of thorough ply
sicGl exarlination is demonstrated
ald score card might become valu.
able in later years Perfection is ex
pressed by tie happy medium.
Judging by an accepted standard of
weights, measurements, and other
methods, the perfect individual is not
common. Through the kindness and
courtesy of MIR. and Mrs. House
have bo,n extended the privilege of
p~ecerting before you my little
friend, EllGnor House. At the age of
two years she entered the baby con-
test of Spokane and after thorough
examination the doctors found her to
be physically perfect and scored her
one hundred per cent
You will note how symmetrically
proportiOned she is. Her radiant
health expresses Itself in her untir-
ing energy and sunny disposition.
(Thcn followed a demonstration
with Ellanor as living Elodel)
However desirable, it is not neces-
sary for children to fit certain
standard to enjoy good health. It's
the impalpable stamina difficult of
demonstration that counts most in
or bodily welfare. The skinny chap
with moderate appetite, long wind
and cord-like muscles is apt to out
live his fat, fiorid and cumbersome
playmate with a ravenous appetite.
Caring for Nervous System
Tie nervous system of the child
should receive its share of attention.
Nearly every individual has received
in childhood mental or physical
shock, the effects OF which have fol-
loved him through life. Ghost stor-
les should never be told They should
be banished from childrens litera.
ture, nor should children be allowed
to scare cne another, especially by
sudden darts in the dark. The child
that is predisposed to nervousness
should receive special care to guard
il from shocks which aggravate this
nervousness. The truly hysterical
C .ses should be treated by firmness
and kindness, combined with a sort
of moral education which should
strive to eliminate selfishness and
egotism. This is also good treatment
for us older children.
Parents should consider the ques-
tion of corporal punishment very
deeply. No doubt there are occa-
sions when nothing seems to do so
much good or bring such immediate
results as a good thrashing None
the less, ! firmly believe that could
We train our children better and
more consistently from babyhood and
also set better example before
them In our own conduct the occa-
sions for the need of corporal punish
ment would be very rare indeed
Then, through diplomacy, better and
more humane forms OF punishment
may be found. 1t takes little brain
power to give fogging, but to de-
wise a suitable substitute requires
thought and patience. Severe and
brutal floggings, especially upon
highly-strung and sensitive children,
have often caused nervous shock
that has ruined what otherwise
might have been sunny life. In.
stead of possessing an air of inde-
pendence. selfassurance and confid
enCe of being accepted by society,
the recipient of brutal treatment los
es these essentials to success, and
becomes one of the spineless, mega
tive and retiring characters, which
We regard with scorn, when we
should extend cur sympathy.
Neurasthenia, that protean and
battling disorder which may present
the picture of dozens of other all
ments, may have it's seeds sown in
childhood with improper care or
abuse of the nervous system.
Causes OF Baekwardness
Backwardness in children may be
due to many causes, and before a
child is accused of laziness or other
shortcomings an accurate knowledge
of his mental and physical condition
should be obtained. But few years
ago thousands of people in the South
we're called hopelessly lazy, when
science discovered the hook-worm
which was sapping their vitality.
Fortunately, remedy was found
and numberless cases have been re-
stored to health and vitality.
Disturbance of one of the small
glands before mentioned may cause
resistless somnolence, the patient
falling asleep even when standing.
Admittedly such cases are rare, but
emphasize the fact that We should
not he too hasty In cnndamnins the