The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-04

highly developed--even that of children who later become the most matter of fact and unimaginativc people. Their imagination can conjure up for them pictures of beauty and happiness, and It can in equal degree conjure up the most terrifying horrors.
 was talking the other day to a prominent doctor who has accomplished great things in correcting abnormal psy- chologoical conditions. He told me some stories of the lasting effect on people who had been frightened by their parents or nurses, that were hair-raising and depressing to degree. However, none of us should really need to be told this by doctor. The most ordinary common sense should tell even the most ignorant and unimaginative person that to frighten child is nothing short of criminal. The mother must be a very weak and intellectual person who is ever forced to use any threat except the dis pleasure of herself or the cflilds father. In order to obtain good behavior. / During some work did in an Italian district once l saw children who were lost, running like souls possessed from policeman who was tryings to help them. On talking to some of these chil- dren l discovered that their parents method had been to say, Look out, Don't do that or the cop will get you."' acknowledge that perhaps in some cases the policemen themselves may nave been somewhat at fault, as some times they are a little brusque in or dering children off the grass. etc., but Tn my experience, in work I have done Tn the poorer quarters of New York, have found them always kind and lovely to the children in the neighborhOod. But the children who have not discov- cred this fact for themselves are us- ually In great terror of the very man who can be of assistance to them. owing to the stupid and cruel methods of con- trol used by their parents.
 A few years ago I had one of the few serious quarrels I have ever had with a friend. An action of hers SO mortified me and gave me such a new light on her character that I could never again be friends with her. This woman had little girl about six years old, very high strung, "ery imaginative and at times, must acknowledge. very naughty. I, had never, before that evening, been able to understand this child's awful terror of the dark. She had, undoubtedly, started with the slight fear of darkness which all chil- dren have. Her mother, instead of heIp- Ing her to overcome it, had evidently decided that it was splendid weapon for her use. She had encouraged it On the evening of which speak the child had been rather naughty and difficult to handle, and suddenly, to my horror, I heard the mother say:
 "All right, you know all the terrible things that might happen in a dark room and if you are not good I will shut you up in Onei"
 The child went into such A fit of terror as l had never seen or imagined and 1 am afraid must acknowledge that l said unf0rgiveable things to the moth CT. have never regretted them. though do not suppose they in any way changed her method.
 The effects of such up-bringing on a child are unlimited. So stupid was the mother that she could not even un- derstand why the child at times looked at her with terror in her eyes. Natur- ally, the child, isntead of everything beautiful, and all the betting, presents and carresses that the mother might lavish on her could never do anything to soften or change the impression caused by that one fatal act-making capital out of the child,s imaginative fear in order to make, her own life q little bit easier.
 If there is anything that deserves se- were punishment, I should certainly the list. 'UN OA