Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1939-07-06
Cruelty Is
Natural
Instinct
Children Have Not
Matured Enough
To Suppress 1t
By ANGELO PATRI.

The three little girls we're playing
merrily when Louella, another mem
Der of their set, appeared in the
yard Immediately, Roseanne,
newcomer to the neighborhood,
bright and vivacious., self-conf-
dent and aggressive, drew the two
friends close to her and whispered:
Don't let's play with Louella. Let's
make believe we're mad at her"
Without a thought the two erst-
while friends of the outcast fol-
lowed Roseanne's lead. withdrew
from the shocked Louella, arms
about each other. heads together,
whispering busily. Gazing after
them with disbelieving eyes, the hurt
child stood still where she was for
few minutes. Then, the full weight
of her isolation falling upon her
spirit, she wheeled and raced for
home.
Mother, mother, what shall I do?
What shall do? My friends won't
speak to me- They won't play with
me cause Roseanne told them
not to-"
Mother, quite as shocked as her
little daughter, stopped work and
took her on her lap. There, there
it can't be as bad as that. You
have been friends for all the days
of your life Don't cry. We will
have to think about this and see
what it means and then do some
thing about 1t. You won't be left
alone no matter what happens. It's
time we had cup of tea. Get out
your teacups and the milk and Ill
get us some cookies and we will talk
this over Maybe Susie would like
to come over? Call her on the tele-
phone and see"
Susie, a good natured little cousin,
was always ready to come over and
soon the little tea party was in full
swing. Let's hurry up and clear
away the tea things now and set
the table and get all ready for father,
and I'll get out the car and we'll
all drive down to meet him. That
will be fine surprise" So said, so
done.
All the while she was busy direct
ing her little daughters thoughts
from her cruel experiences of the
afternoon, mothers mind had been
busy. She would help Louella to be
casual about this, to indicate that
she was quite happy without her
late playmates, thoroughly enjoying
herself to all appearances. "They
will have to think that she doesn't
need them. That's ALL
For the next three days mother
kept Louella so happily occupied
taking up all her spare time with
little social gestures, visit to the
city, new dollhouse, a visitor from
out OF town, party for this visitor
to which the three offenders were
casually invited to attend along with
five other children.
You just look after these five
and you. can let the other three
make themselves at home because
they are old friends in the house.
Give your attention to the newer
ones so they will feel at home" said
mother, hoping that she was head
ing things in the right direction.
She felt she had zone well when the
triple enemy made it plain that
they would like 70 count Louella in
once more.
That's all right, Louella," said
mother as they talked it over that
night, but don't ever let them
think that you can't do without
them. In this world you have to
look and feel strong or you will be
picked as bare as that poor chicken
was last summer. The world is full
of kindly children. Full of them.
Know as many as you can and then
you won't miss the unkind ones"
'"But I like Caroline best and
Roseanne pushes me out"
That's up to Caroline, not you.
Don't let yourself be picked, re-
member"
Why are children cruel? They
have not matured sufficiently to hide
their natural instincts. BY and by
they learn. Meanwhile one does
what one can to protect the victims.