The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1919-09-26
"DRIvlNe OUT CHILDREN"
(St. Petersburg Times)

his eyes open for things that would
be applicable to his home city. And
of all the things he saw, none touched
him more keenly than an article
which he read in newspaper. It
was headed Driving Out Children
and was written by DR.. William Nc
Keever, professor in the University
of Kansas, an authority on the train
ing the child.
He clipped the article from the
newspapers and brought it to The
Daily Times. It is worth reading,
especially at this time of the year
when the renting of houses and apart.
ments is the most important business
of most everybody. Here it is:
ITO Rent-Modern 5-room apart.
ment, no children.
ITO Rent-Modern Groom apart
ment. Very desirable. No children
| in building.
"Wanted-Household work by the
day by woman who wishes to take g.
year-old child along.
"The foregoing "want-ads" all ap-
pearing in the same daily paper are
indicative of pathetic and very dis
ta cfaf,,1 citnatiop
This agesof materialism is produc-
ing an increasingly large class Of
child haters. For days past, man
and wife and little 7-year-old daugh-
ter, all Of my acquaintance, have been
trying almost frantically to secure de.
cent living quarters in the heart of
a big city. They have advertised
and sought far and wide. mo chill
dren wanted" "The people in this
building do not want any children
here" "Have agreed to take adults
only in this apartment"-such is the
rebuff with which they are turned
away in a large number of places.
Indeed, this wrong against the
child has become so common and so
serious during this period Of high
rents and house famine that some one
must cry out against it.
Cruelty, selfishness, ignorance,
meanness or sickness-one or more of
these five accusations l place against
the landlord who are intolerant Of
children. If they are sick, excuse
them; If not, accuse them.
Every one of these baby haters
was himself once dependent child.
Someone fed him, clothed him,
washed him, tended him patiently in
illness, edured his noise, repaired the
furniture when he broke it, or bought
more; defended him when in trouble,
paid his way, put him to school and
tolerated a thousand of his blunders
He received all this abundant good
as free gift and wants to give none
of it back. With what harsh words
shall we characterize such selfishness
Where is the landlord who will
advertise for children wanted very
desirable, plenty of little ones never
lonesome, lively boys and girls in ev-
cry apartment and so on? l want
his photograph. Where is the tenant
in the fiat below who will beg the
landlord to fill up the place with
romping boys and girls and thus do
something to keep the spirit of the
place young? l want to offer such
tenant place in my affections.
Children sleep longer than adults.
They retire early-the noisy ones
and get up late. The idea that they
seriously interfere with ones peace
of mind is purely fiction. The idea
that their noise is mere wantonness
or perverseness is merely your own
ignorant or dyspeptic state of mind.
There is always method in a
child's play. He is engrossed thereby
in getting something done, just as is
the case with yourself in the pursuit
of your business and you will find it
aquiver with meanings and interests.
Once divine his motive and the noise
OF his play may become a sort of mu-
sic to your tired nerves. Once learn
to sympathize with his problems and
failures, his triumphs and disappoint-
ments, and his very pleasure will
seem a necessary part of your own
daily comfort and satisfaction.
Finally, you intolerant landlords,
and tenants, in proportion as you shut