Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1919-06-01

n " ROYAL prince, no helr 10 throne
~ or great fortune was ever more
carefully safeguarded from harm
than little nne.year-old Vinson Walsh
McLean-and yet the tragic death he met
the other day was precisely the sort of
mishap which his guardians were sure was
impossible The child died victim OF
the very rules of safety which we're so
painstakingly devised to protect him
From the hour Of his birth this son and
heir OF MIR. and Mrs Edward Beale Nc.
Lean Of Washington. was surrounded with
ever protection and precaution that re.
souFceiulnesS OF mind and money could
ProN!ue But one great fundamental truth
was over!ooked-the ineXorable law OF
Nature that only by bitter experience does
chlid usually learn the great lessons OF
lie The child was purposely spared the
daily mshaps and childish sorrows which
torn the fund OF experience that rpens
INTO Judgment Sef-control and caution and
is the child's own best protection
Little Vinson McLean's playcrounds
were the walled estates Of his devoted
parents II the child passed the steel
gates of his well-guarded playground
guiding hand led him through the dangers
OF the outer world OF the public parks
the streets, the crowded cross-walks. the
street cars, the rush Of motor traffic the
child knew nothing Whenever he moved
about in the confusing world outside the
walls az his Fairgrounds a detective and
nurse led him 10 his automobile stood at
MS SIDE every moment and led him back
through the gates again into his secure
refuge
But the child was now nine years old
The eternal watchfulness OF his guardians
hogan 10 annoy him. The spirit of self
4 nd nh Oh
10 develop Things that other less care
July guarded boys We're allowed TO do and
u learn ne never did and never had q
chance 10 learn Things that other nine.
Eear-oid boys knew from their own experi.
ence the Mclean child did not realize be-
cause ne had never had the advantage of
experience
The fatal day came. The grea, steel
gate o. he rock-walled hundrcd.acre es.
taie in Washington was unlocked and
stood alar The child wandered up and
peered out His guardians stood near
"hai possible danger was there?
bu' as Ninson looked longinglv into
W lScons!n avenue he saw an acquaintance
aoTist employed on the estate. Quick
as a fash the boy darted through the gate
ana ran head!onE into the street to greet
a!s lflenf ne looked neither 10 the right
nor TO I -: left ,the gave no thought TO the
daneere q" ,Taitic. He had never been in
public street alone-he had never
learned to thread his way through the
passing vehicles The child was struck
Gown by an automobile and died with the
innocent but significant question, What
vas II iha' hap1ened?'
Death by being run down. alone. in
Washington PUBLIC highway, Certainly
thiS particular misnap could never hammer
70 ms Wcl.. guarded child. his parents we're
sure To the farmers boy or the street
gsmiH It would not have happened. 80
chilH o; experience in the public streets
you'd run blndly through gate, cross tho
Sidewalk and into the street without a
tnoHshl OF danger The hest-guarded child
II all the world paid with his life the pen.
atty OF his inAynerience
rom the rest of the world. He did M
90 20 school he did not play with other
boy. ne did no' cat food from the publin
markets or drink milk from the pubic