Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1917-07-18

CA paper read before a meeting of
one of Orleans county's w. c. t. U.s.
In the building of King Solomon's
temple the work of the skilled arti-
sans, SO much looked up to and adj
mired has long since passed away but
the work of the humble toilers who
so faithfully laid the foundation
stones, long concealed, alone remains
to this day.
In times like these, when all public
utterances are tuned to the patriotic
pitch we must not overlook the fact
that we mothers have entrusted TO US
the greatest opportunity for laying
sure foundations, which is the source
of all true patriotism.
Much has been said about the con-
servation of our forests and the de-
velopment of ourwater power but our
greatest undeveloped resources are
the minds and souls of our children.
The world needs better men and wom-
en- today than it ever needed them be-
fore and the the demand for them
must ever come back to the home.
Some talk about a woman's sphere as
though it had a limit,
There's not a place in earth or heav-
en-, there's not a task to mankind
given,
There's not blessing orawoe, there's
not a whispered Eyes" or no."
There's not a life or death or birth,
that has a feathers weight of
worth
Without woman in il"
When Napoleon was asked what he
considered the greatest need of
France he replied, Mothers" Glance
through the pages of history and you
will find women have had a perma-
nent share In all great undertakings
then trace the growing conception
and Importance placed upon childhood
since the time of Christ.
In that day the disciples disap-
proved of even the slightest attention
being bestowed on children but Christ
said, Suffer little children to come
unto me-" These words were spoken
nearly 1000 years ago and so we see
how slow mankind has been in afford
ing to children their proper place.
Until within the last century the
claims of childhood were not serious
ly considered but such men as Froe-
bel, Raikes and Bushnell have done
much to give this important subject
its due place.
All children have a right to look
duty to prepare them to lead a useful
life, to withstand temptation and
meet adversity bravely. Someone has
said that the greatest crime against
society has been its neglect and abuse
of little children. That society pays
dearly for it's neglect is shown in our
crowded court rooms and reformator-
les. We are learning today that pre-
vention is better than cure, that nur-
ture is wiser than rescue. Preven-
ton, that is the wonderful opportuni-
ty of the home to get there first. Let
thase who want to put their energies
into reform stand for prevention.
The new education studies the
needs of the child and plans for his
physical development and moral edu-
cation and the child has the right to
secure his education, not from books
alone, but from parents and those
with whom he meets from day to day.
Truly has it been said that the first
duty of a mother and of a people is to
care for the children and there are
over 30,000,000 of them in the United
States under 16 years of age.
Investigation shows that mothers
stand first as counsellors to their
children.
Now, as mothers, just what do we
consider the most important thing in
our child's life. Some lay much stress
upon proper clohting, proper food,
good education and justly so, but we
owe to the child, beside all this,
proper understanding of his own be-
ing.
Is there anything in all the world
more wonderful or beautiful than the
story of life. Science and invention