Evening star., 1961-03-05
BY RUTH DEAN
Star Staff Writer

Mrs. John B. Connally is
one mother who believes
children ought to have their
childhood instead Of being
pushed into adult stereo-
types" before they know
what life's all about.
This sober reflection comes
from a woman with a tre-
mendous joie de vie to whom
each day is more exciting
than the one before" AS the
wife Of the Secretary Of the
Navy, she thinks "it's a won
derful experience to be part
Of this Government"
Mrs. Connally'S thoughts
on children and childhood
spring from her own expe-
riences and observations.
tive spent the last 18 years
being mother and I've done
it willingly and happily" she
says.
Il guess I sound like I'm
preaching" she said with a
light laugh. But I do think
parents are to blame for
pushing their children too
quickly through their for
NATIVE years. They don't
want them to be gawky or
awkward. yet this is part of
growing up.
Every child deserves to
be an ugly duckling. They'll
turn into a swan eventually
with just a little guiding. I
think when you push them
too quickly you're sitting
things inside them they have
a right to find for them
selves. They need time to
daydream, to wonder and to
form their own ideas. Par
ents can't do it for them"
Not Too Strict
However, Mrs. Connally
hasn't been a too-strict par
ent for she thinks this can
be bad, too, for a child's So
cial development. So she's
m ade some compromises
while holding the line on the
side of common sense. II
don't want them to think
mothers an old beetle" she
laughed.
It's easy to see why she
was chosen sweetheart Of the
University of Texas in her
Junior year. Her handsome
future husband was presi-
dent of the student body.
They choose only the pref
tiest girls for the Sweet
heart" title. Mrs. Connally.
the former Idanell cNellie"
to her friends) Brill, met
John in her freshman year
and they went together all
through college.
The Connallys were mar
ried in 1910. So it was as a
new bride that she first saw
Washington. Her husband
was just beginning his career
as an assistant to the then
Representative Lyndon john
son of Texas.
Mrs. Connally finds their
return to Washington a kind
of renewal.
1--WE become aware OF
things I'd forgotten about"
she exclaimed. You know
there is a Navy and men who
man the Navy's ships. But
you forget about the SINGER
ity and dedication of these
eager, handsome, young men
who take these ships out to
sea-"
Christening
This realization was
brought home to Mrs. Con-
nally when she christened
the Polaris submarine S. S.
Sam Houston on February
2 in Newport News.
I'D never been that close
to a ship before" she said
recalling the moment when
she stood on a high platform
in l6-degree cold, with the
ship beginning its slow de-
scent down the ways, the
ships crew looking down at
her from above and the
launching crew from below.
AS she stood with champagne
bottle poised for the chris
tening blow, Mrs. Connally
said she suddenly realized
how much everything de-
pends on me-"
In spite of the fact 1t was
so cold her orchid chipped
off like crackers, Mrs. Con-
nally said she wasn't aware
Of the cold. II was too ex-
cited about whether I'd
break the bottle. 1t felt like
it weighed a ton," she
laughed.
To remind her of this oc-
casion, Mrs. Connally was
given a small leather box
containing mementoes Of the
christening-the ribbon and
netting that held the cham
payne bottle, and a gold
medal which she wears on a
charm bracelet which is one
Of her most treasured pos
sessions. The bracelet be-
longed to their daughter,