Year: 1867




what Gen. Lee Thinks AbOuf It-In-
teresting Suggestions.


The Virginia papers publish the follow
ing, which ought 10 secure the attention Of
parents:


Obedience is the first requisite in family
trimming. 1t should be made sincere and
perfect and to proceed as much from affec-
tion as a conviction sf its necessity. To
accomplish this, great prudence and the
exercise of much patience are necessary.
By frmness mixed with. kindness the child
win learn, by repeated experience, that he
is not to follow bis first impulse, and that
self-control, which even an infant can un-
derstand, is necessary TO his comfort.
Neither violence nor harshness should ever
be used; and the parent must bear constant
ly in mind that to govern his child he must
show him that he can control himself. ORe
Of the most common errors in the manage
ment of children is irregularity of behavior
towards them. They are as skillful, as
pertinacious in their attempts to crafty
their selfwill at one time trying 10 eYade
authority, at another to oppose It. Ii they
once succeed, they are encouraged TO per-
severe, and it is necessary for the parent to
meet the first attempt with 6smness. and
not permit himself to be baffled either by
evasion or resistance. Although a child
may not WELD TO threats, and may defy pun
ishment, he cannot resist patient kindness
and gentle admonitiOn.


The love of truth is equal in importance
to habitual obedience. Every encourage
ment, even to the Eardoning Of ohenses,
ob1,.iI 10 rrsrr 10 a,,lfavoffDr TIo
first impulse of the mind in children is
always to speak the truth ratherth than false
hood, until some evil motive arise TO sway
them to untruth. They should be accus-
toned to hear the truth always spoken.
Confession of error, with a detestatioA of
falsehood, dishonesty, and equivocation
should be sedulously ineuleated. A strict
adherence to promises made to them is of
the utmost importance, as well az the re-
moyal of all temptation to misconduct


The influences of Christianity form the
essential element of moral character, as its
principles are the only sufficient basis of
virtue or happiness. Hence the parents
most sacred duty to his child is to impress
the sentiments of eur holy religion early
upon his mind by personal explanation
and systematic instruction. As the intel
lect expands, its sacred truths will be COM
pretended and felt, and its motives and
principles be strengthened and confirmed
by practice and habit


An essential part ofthe education ofyOuth
is to teach them to serve themselves, and
to impress upon them the fact that nothing
good can be acquired in this world without
labor; and that the very necessaries and
comforts of life must be procured by earnest
and regular exertion. They should also be
taught to know that, after having been.
reared and educated by their parents, they
should not expect them to fprOvide further
for them, and that their future subsistence
and advancement must depend upon them
selves. Parents sometimes commit the mis-
take of allowing gtheirchildren, after having
reached the period of life when they ought
to be engaged in making a livelihood, TO
rely upon them for support. This en-
courages them in injurious idleness. and
destroys their spirit of selfdependence,
which is necessary for their advancement
in life, and canses them to appear so I'M
reasonable as TO depend upon them after
having arrived at an age when they should
think and act for themselves


The choice of a profession is not OF so
much consequence as the manner in which
il is pursued ifhabits az self-control and
self denial have been acquired during the
season Of education, the great object has
been accomplished. Diligence and in
tegrity In any useful pursuit of life will be
sure to secure prosperity and fame, and
success will result from engaging in that
business in watch the generality of man
kind are interested.


Such being the correct view of educa-
tion, the support and cooperation which
faithful teachers should receive from
parents can be easily inferred by the good
sense of each one. We only ask especial
attention, in concluding, TO the following
suggestions, which our experience has
shown to be of prime importance:


l. The parent, after committing his child
| to the teaching of another, should continue
to manifest an afiectionate interest in his
improvement by constant inquiry and en-
couragement.


2 The supplying ofyoung persons, while
absent from their homes, with needless
money, and the permission to contract
debts, are to be reprobated, as tempting 10
a sinful prodigality and multiplying the
dangers of contracting habits Of vice.


3. The proper authority ofteachers must
be firmly sustained BY parents.


f. Every young person should be in
\ formed by his parents that he must give
diligence to profit by his studies, or else
must be compelled to make himself useful
to society by actual labor in some humber
| sphere.


And last an unworthy parent cannot
reasonably expect the teacher, against the
current of his wrong example, to form his
son into a worthy man.


r. +. LEE,


r. r. DABNEY,