Year: 1871

THERE is a tendency, we think, at the
present day, to put children too forward,
not so much for the sake of showing of
their extraordinary merits to an admiring
world, as from the better motive of early
accustoming them to the conversation of
grown people and the usages of society,
and of inspiring them with confidence,
ease and self-possession. No doubt these
results are very valuable; but the mistake
which many people make Is in forgetting
that children are something like dogs,
which require TO be very we'll trained be-
fore they can safely be recommended to
the familiarity of strangers And it is to
be remembered that the moment children
cease to respect any of the grown-up peo-
pie with whom they associate, not only Is
the whole benefit of the intercourse lost at
once, but real injury is inflicted on the
moral tone Of the child. For this reason
children should be brought as little as pos.
sible into the society of men and women
who cannot command their respect; while
of those who can, the influence should
be hedged round by all the numerous i'm
palpable barriers which judicious parents
know perfectly we'll how to interpose be-
tween children and the most popular and
careless of their adult playlellows. The
confidence which well. bred children repose
in an eligible stranger, without being either
rude or troublesome, is charming to every.
body who has any natural taste for their
society.


But closely allied with the mistaken Ii.
cense allowed to their children in matters
like the above, is the disposition to laugh
at, and threby to encourage, all traits of
singularity, oddness, or affectation which
children may exhibit, as marks of genius,
which ought not to be repressed. OF all
the dangerous errors into which parents
can fall, this, in our opinion, is the worst.
| For nothing so soon hardens into second
nature as juvenile eccentricity; and few
| things are more injurious to success in life
than marked oddities of manner and ges-
ture when they reach the point of gro-
tesqueness The majority of the world
agree with Mr.. Peter Magnus; they don't
see the necessity originals. And what, is
more, so many originals are only sham
ones after all. That is to say, their sim
gularity is merely bad habit which they
can't shake off, and is only very partially
innate. When you see child doing any
thing unlike other children, anything
queer, surprising, or uncouth, however
comic or however clever it may seem,
never laugh at or applaud it. Chill.
dren, naturally very self.willed,
and with real natural peculiaritise,
can soon be broken of such tricks if treat
ed with absolute indifference. But once
let the idea find its way into their brains
that such ssllies, naught though they be,
are regarded as marks of genius, and the
mischief is done.


To come back to the point from which
we started-the management, namely, of
young children-there Is one thing to be
laid down; let there be no divided rule in
a house. Don't let the children see that
the father means one thing and the mother
another in their bringing up. They see
the difference if it EXISTS, in moment |;
and when they do, farewell to all whole
some parental influence. Husbands and
mothers may talk too freely before their
children, forgetful Of their rising intelli-
gence. And, indeed, nothing is more
common than to get a wink from the head
of the house, implying that you are to be
on your guard before Johnny or Tommy,


who is listening open-mouthed to your
! witty narrative, while he himself the next
moment will offend against his own pre-


cautions in the most barefaced manner by
plunging headlong into your domestic


controversy, In which, TO speak metaphor.
ically,. knives are freely used on both sides.
--lMdcnRlaa's Aagdsine