New Britain herald., 1928-09-08

splrltuailty-noto one OF th0ee 40o0y-
goody sort of places. you understand.
but dwelling that. while 1t may not
have everything In material sense
yet has something mora good
father and a good mother who.
at an early age. inculcate in
their offspring the ideals OF
life. There can of course, be a
coupling of the material and the
spiritual homes.
In the estimation of Mrs. WILLIE
brandt the spiritual is what counts.
She is afraid that by over-emphasis
of outward objects and by neglect OF
sowing the inner seeds of sanctity,
most of the spiritual forces that
shape chfld's life are lost. These
are brought to bear on youngsters
even before the power of memory Is
developed. which usually begins
somewhere between the fourth and
fifth years In the period gone be-
fore, the subconscious mind is ex-
ceedingly active. Impressions feel-
ings. habit-forming tendencies. are
constantly coming into being.
So there is serious side even in
the moral life of innocents.
Iitc's Greatest Blessing
Mrs. Willebrandt, like most wom-
en-. recognizes in little children,
life's greatest blessings.
You would think" the suggestion
was offered, that anyone-man or
woman-would be willing to make
sacrifices for little children"
Sacrifices for children. The idea
did not sit well with Mrs. Willie
brandt. Somehow. she did not see
where there was any sacrifice
needed
Well, take the economical aspect
of the thing-what about those
people who believe. honestly. they
cannot afford the incidental ex-
penses that 60 with the rearing of
little ones?"
There was. of course. something
to that. Children. as well as grown
ups. must eat-and they must be
clothed, kept warm in winter, cool
there's a will there's way.
Young mothers. of course. count
their sacrifices in the hours they
cannot spend away from their off,
spring-unabl BILE to get maids. and
nurses. and capable care. or what
ever it is; but are these really sac
rifices? The question was In Mrs.
Withdrawals eyes rather than on
her lips. To the observer her ideal
seems TO be that children. in them
selves, offer so much outright JOY
that to talk OF sacrifice in their
subjective discussion amounts some
what to sacrilege. This, of course.
is merely an impression. Another
impression is that she always has
in mind the obedient child. and by
this she lays great stress and store.
1.-The obedient child" says Mrs.
Willebrandt. emphatically. lis the
happiest child"
Obedience. she believes, is best
taught at the crib. Authority is
there well asserted. BY dint OF
constant lowering and practice. If
you will. it asserts itself in terms SO
unmistakable that the child never
forgets.
The main problem Of childhood,
says this woman, is to adjust itself
to adult standards. I'VE are con-
stantly asking that-that the little
child, knowing no standards. shall
conform to the standards of its
elders.
BY right of experience. Of having
been here before. to put it that way,
there is only one way a new
conner into this world may become
acquainted with the laws that have
been in existence all these years:
that is. by learning them from the
grown-ups. Insofar as the grown
ups teach the lessons, and teach
them well, so far will the children
advance.
Spoiled children are the bane of
existence.
Indulsent influences in the fornia-
tive years of childhood wreak dew
astating consequences in later life,
Mrs Willebrandt believes-and she
bases her conclusions OH an intense
study of the science of human con-
duct. She formed this view after
extensive dealing with those who
violate the law. A yearly average
of more than 5000 defendants
parade before her watchful eyes
persons who scheme to beat Uncle
Sam out Of taxes. or those who
have taken up the profitable If
somewhat reprehensible profession
Of bootlegging; or is it trade?
The government itself and par
ents. too, are prone TO forget one
contributing influence to the making
of criminals. Mrs. Willebrandt
opines. That is. the neglect of
proper guidance in the early years
Of childhood. Inattention to disci-
plinary methods, failure in the early
years to impress the young idea
what it's all about is one OF the
contributing causes of crime In
other words, the gentle art OF spoil
ing children makes inmates, later
on. for the penal institutions OF the
land. A startling number OF these
behind the bars were. in carly life,
spoiled children-accordng to this
authority.
F'irst-laid impressions of author
ity. of law. of truth. OF self-denial.
are important in the raising Of chill
dren. says Mrs. Wilebrandt. If
these are made properly there is
little cause for worry. The child is
quick to learn.
Mothers. naturally want to in
dulge their babies The warning is,
Lay off,"
Spoiled Children Always bad
The tragedy of it all is. in the es-
timation of Mrs Willebrandt, and of
those psychologists she has studied,
notably DIR. Alfred Adler, spoiled
children do not mend their ways.