The Washington times., 1919-04-08
The Asinine Process of
"Hardening Children
When 1t Doesn't Injure Their Health, 1t Hardens and
Injuries Their Minds

Mr. Noske Socialist war minister in Germany, says
n case of an mfavorable peace the army must be
quickly brought to state of highest efficiency for new
war" Mr.. Noske seems to have neglected chance to
learn lesson.
He SAYS that the taking back of AlsaceLorrain by
France would necessarily cause reaction in which Ger
many with population of sixty millions, and prospect
Of another ten millions from German Austria would have
great advantage in numbers France the population
Of which, he thought has gone down to about thirty six
millions"
This thought even from the German point of view is
rather foolish at this particular time when France and
Germany is deciding what condition Germany shall be in
for fighting after the peace is signed.
Germany and Austria had their millions, and France
small comparatively, when the trouble began four
and half years ago. But the less France and Bel
gium smaller still, managed to hold the invaders until
some of the big neghbors came in.
The recent shows that when Germany starts out
fighting she is apt to drag in everybody, including the
United States last dragn resulting in the restora-
tion of Aace and Lorraine France this country
thirty thousand million dollars and Mr. Noske
and others in Germany must realize that in Of
another outbreak like the recent one action by the neigh
bors Of France will probably be more prompt than last
time.
Mr.. Noske, of Germany and the other nations, many
with ideas like Noskes although they keep them quiet
should be content to develop from along sane
full lines, NOT including wholesale murder
The most foolish thing Mr. Noske says concerns hard
enng children that they may be ready to fight in the
next war
The only way harden children is to develop their
minds and their bodies equally, not overworng them in
schools Germany does not overworng their bodies
the Sparans did Reasonable intelligence, education not
mental "eramming plenty of exercise outdoors in sun
shine and fresh air, childhood Of happiness and normal
development that is the kind of thing needed make good
children into strong men,
Any effort to harden the body such as the Spartans
tried simply hardens the MIND dus it, and eventually
eliminates factor the country that tries the hardening
process
Hardening children is tried by foolish people every
where including America People send their children out
in winter with legs and BARE under the impression
that childs body heat all outdoors You see two
hundred pound nurse well wrapped up in heavy woolen
or fur accompanying sxtypound child its bare legs
purple with the cold and that is of the humors of
prosperous civilization.
The ordinary American boy who went into the army
and whose only fault that you couldn't hold him
back, not especially hardened" or otherwise pre-
pared to take something belonging to somebody else BY
force.
But without the hardening process he made good
international policeman and attended quickly to his job
when his nation told 81" you send your ships to sea
we shall sink them good average citizen makes the
good average fighter. Let me have Cody men," said
Cromwell, who all his battles.