The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-07-13
HOME HEALTH CLUB
EDITED by Dr., David n. Reeder. Chi
cago.l

EDITED by DR.. David n. Reeder. Chi
cago.)
A COPY CAT: An outlandishl name
for a lecture on health but I am go
ing to tell you of an outlandish and
unnecessary condition.
Not long ago a young mother. one
whose first baby was still In It's swad-
ding clothes, was sitting by an open
window, she heard an unpleasant,
quarrelsome, though childish voice in
the yard below. After a time it
dawned upon her that a neighbors
little girl was playing house" and
the Inhabitants of the house were her
doll babies. From the time the play
house game began until it ended
there was constant stream Of com
plants by the little play mother. with
all kinds of threats OF severe punish
ments, seedlings and finally a perfect
hysteria of furious fault finding with
the imaginary father who was sup
posed to come home from his days
work tired and hungry.
The play house. proposition fin
ally ended when the little mother was
supposed to take to her bead and send
for the doctor, while the distracted
father went to the nearest saloon for
comfort. The greatest lesson Of her
life was learned by the young mother
who listened at the window and she
Rugged her own little one closely to
her breast as she registered promise
to God that it should never be forced
to listen and observe such dangerous
life lessons.
J The child early begins to observe
and it learns by observation percep-
| ton and develops by imitation. It is
probable that the most enduring ha-
bits Of life are formed unconsciously
through imitation Of the parents.
| A pamphlet supplied free by the
| Children's Bureau, u. s. Department
of Labor. Washington, D. c.. would
be Of great value to all parents
whether they belong to the laboring
| class or not.
Thus the child learns to speak his
| first words, and from this time until
he begins his formal education in
school. and indeed. through his entire
childhood, he is initiating the Ian
guage, manners, and emotions of the
older people about him. His behavior
and opinions are undoubtedly to some
extent the direct result of this copy
ing of his elders. He will repeat the
tricks Of speech and manner which
they constantly employ
! If child lives among people whose
language is correct and agreeable
whose manners are pleasant, who
4 show always a thoughtful considera-
ton for others and whose behavior IL
gentle and kindly. he unconsciously
acquires similar ways. The habit OF
} courtesy comes not alone nor chiefly
from direct instruction, but from ini-
} tation. If child sees that his elders
are habitually courteous in their as.
ISOLATION with each other, if kindli.
ness and consideration for each Other
are the habits of the home, these
qualities will inevitably stamp them
selves upon the child. Good manner.
are an invaluable asset to every per
son, but good manners have theil
root and foundation in fine qualities
of mind and heart and only the con
: slant daily exercise of them will hell
give the children that charm of man
ner which is such q delight in per
sons of every age. The opposite
qualities are likewise initiated and
help produce another sort of child
Clearly, therefore, parents have al
enormous responsibility in moldinl
, and shaping a child into the kind o
man he is to be, for these early les
. sons on conduct and manners arr
probably never quite eradicated. Mel
who as children were accustomed t,
: hearing uncouth language still laps
. in manhood into this true fault, how
ever well educated they may have be
come, and the same is true Of physic
, al mannerisns and even of the men
: tai attitude. If a child grows Ill
aong people who are sco1ding, fault
= finding. complaining or quarrelsome
he Is almost sure to show a tendenc.
to these qualities, however much h,
may learn to abhor them in later life