The Waterbury Democrat., 1934-02-26
gR THEY'RE NAUTICAL BUT NICE FOR SPRING, GIRLS
EP YOUR
CHILDREN
! By Clive Roberts BsrtOe

There is more to the saying that
cleanliness is next to goodness
than we think. In fact it has been
translated to mean that goodness
nepends on cleanliness. More free
~ interpreted still, 1t means that
character depends upon order.
This Is an undisputable truth,
Nothing is more conducive to q
eluttered mind than to live in a
bnees. When there is no place for
anything, or nothing is in its place
when there is no regular schedule
and one lives in a hand-to-mouth
manner our very attitude to life
assumes its grotesque colors. Our
thinking and habits become ILL
assorted and purposeless.
The child is more sensitive to
these things than we realize. In
fact 80 closely related is habit-of-
living to character that it has been
! seized upon by educators to start
J the baby in its crib. Regular feed
/ ing time, regular bath time, regu-
lar bed time are not recommend
| I'd for physical virtue alone, but to
set expectancy and therefore ac-
eeptance of authority which is the
basis of all mental content.
Regularity Best Course
Every child of any age does
better in an orderly home and I'M
der routine. He becomes sensitive
TO It and 1t should be continuous.
Any interruption Is likely to up
set him because his body and his
mind thus adjusted protest against
change.
Occasionally parents revolt
against the tyranny of regular
hours and decide to harden" the
children. Nothing but trouble has
resulted from such a source-jug-
Cling bedtime hour or playing
ball with meals. This has been
for many q year, both physically
and Enthusiastically.
Regularity does not always
guarantee perfection, but there is
little doubt that it's opposite is
responsible for difficulties in adj
dustment to authority.
What is true of time is true of
pther regimental conditions, order
and neatness. Most American
mothers are good housewives and
have a well-developed sense of or
der, so the matter to be empha-
sized here is not how to keep
house so much as to show its re-
1ationship to training.
Virtue Of System"
One thing cannot be overlooked,
however. Many mothers who do
their own work are irritable and
worn out. Each day they face
new hurdle of work. and who can
blame them? The attitude of mind
wears out the body quite as much
as the nerves. Yet it so happens
that of two women with the same
health capital and the same house
and family and work, one will be
able to manage quite well nd even
have free time. while her sister
may be in a constant state OF
nerves and furry.
Perhaps one has System" or
does not undertake impossible ex-
tras that keep her forever lag
cling. Or perhaps the first has
trained her family to help, or gets
up earlier, having retired in time
to get plenty of sleep.
There must be a reason and 1t
would be well for the discouraged
70 review her position and see If
she cannot do better by another
route.
She win be stronger and nap
pier. and SO will everybody about
her. II the work can be dispatched
on time. An unhappy and over
worked mother will have neither
health nor patience to bother
about her children's problems.
Furthermore, there will be more
problems.
Then, too, children lose incen-
tive for trying If home surround
ings are unfavorable.
(Copyright, 1884, NEA Service,
Inc.)