The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-04-19

l have not arrived at those years of
indiscretion--and hope l never shall
when | could be induced to interfere
between parents regarding the proper
management and bringing up Of a child.
Yet | will acknowledge that many times
the temptation to do so is strong. A
case In point arose not long since when
l was a guest for the weekend of some
friends in the country.
The circumstance would hardly bear
mentioning had not observed the same
thing so often and had recently received
a letter on the subject from a long suf-
fering man. 1t is a commonplace of
family life where there is only one child,
and arises from the self-indulgenCe of
the mother who fastens chains not only
on herself, but on her child as well.
In this case, a young father and
mother have a little girl four years old
TO whom both Of them are devoted, One
windy day the little thing came bound
Ing into the room, the very picture of
health. She had been working off her
exuberant spirits with a run in the
wind.
Immediately the mother called her
over, drew her close and felt her hands
and her cheeks. Then she told the lit
tie one r~eprovingly that she ought not
to play so hard, she was all overheated.
Finally she let the child start off with
its nurse, but before they left the room
called It back and, appealing to the
husband In the child's presence, re-
marked that the little things cheeks
were so red and hands so hot she Won
dered II 1t could possibly have a fever,
following this up with n catechism OF
searching questions. Did mothers
baby feel perfectly well? Did anything
hurt her? And SO on,
The husband visibly fumed. His i'm
49, al auIl. ~ 4
held in, however, until the child was
finally dismissed with an injunction &c
20 upstairs and play with her dolls
Mother thought she had been running
too much; It was cold out, and she
must not exert herself so violently.
Then the father broke out. lndig-
nantly he assured me that his daughter
was one OF the most perfect little phys
ical specimens he had ever known
sturdy, never missing a meal, never Ill
not the slightest cause of anxiety t
either her mother or himself,
The inevitable wrangle ensued, thu
mother insisting that the child wa
healthy because she watched her 81
carefully and restrained her, while tn
father declared It was by the grace o
God and a good constitution.
He vowed that his wife would maxi
an invalid of the child II she kept on
that she was holding before a perfectl,
| healthy little animal the lear OF penn
sick until. initiative as are all children
the girl would become self conscious
observant Of herself, constantly takinl
note Of her feelings and symptoms
Then-good-bye to health.
He thought the little thing shout
never be questioned as TO her bodil,
condition. II she were Ill she woult
soon show the fact and speak OF 1t her
self. She should grow up unoonsciou
OF her physical machinery, But, in
stead, the mother was training her I
consider being Ill, and was setting u
habits Of thought which would folio,
her through life, BY the time she wa
I or s she would be one OF those prig
rish little girls who are always seek
ing to attract notice or backing put q
anything they don't want to do by com
plaining that they are not feeling we'll.
He put his arguments with force. an
I must confess that my sympathie