158 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



what give tlie new set to the character and work the good habits into 

 the very fibre and tissue of the brain. 



Rip Van Winlile's behavior is what set his habits. Professor James 

 ^.alls our attention to the drunken Rip, who, each time he yields and 

 drinks, says, "I won't count this time." And we pity him and do not 

 want to count it — a kind Heaven may not count it, but it is being 

 counted. Down among his nerve cells and fibres the molecules are 

 counting it and registering and storing it up to be used against him 

 when the next temptation comes. 



Paths of right conduct may be plowed through the brain; habits of 

 decision, of fearlessness, endurance, forbearance, truthfulness, courtesy, 

 humility, may be formed. How do we give evidence that we possess 

 these habits? 



Here is the connection between habit and manners. Our manners 

 ;are simply the outward expression of our habits, at the same time they 

 are strengthening our habits. 



Habits of carelessness or punctuality, habits of control or lack of 

 control, of respectfulness or irreverence, all are shown by our manners. 



Manners is a good word and should mean more than mere externals. 

 We need to pay attention to the habits and to the manners of children 

 and young people. 



We hear that habits of disrespect, of discourtesy, are characteristic of 

 the youth of today ; that good manners in children is a thing of the past. 

 Surely women are forgetting a part of their work if this is true. We 

 must realize the tyranny of habit through a comprehension of the 

 method by which habits grow strong. We must devise ways by which 

 children may strengthen good habits; we must not be indifferent to the 

 behavior of children; we nnist see to it that acts of anger, discourtesy, 

 untruthfulness, are never repeated. This will take wonderful tact. We 

 must in our own characters meet a high requirement, because women 

 must keep on forming the habits and moulding the behavior of the 

 world. 



DISCUSSION. 



Mrs. Mayo: How old do you think a child should be before its habits begin to be 

 -formed ? 



Miss Kellar: I do not know as much about that as you do. I am very much inter- 

 ested in a baby six months old, and it has some well formed habits already. 



Voice: Should begin 200 years before it is born. 



Voice: We might be preparing for those to be born 200 j^ears hence. 



Mrs. Mayo: I am of the opinion that a good many of iis mothers and fathers do 

 not give enough attention to our young children. For instance, I have seen children 

 running out of rooms, crowding older people ; but the fault is not that of the children, 

 they are not taught any better. I do not think the child that is let alone is the one that 

 has a good time. 



Mrs. Haner: I think every mother who has watched her own children from the ear- 

 liest signs of activity will know that then they were beginning to form their habits. 

 We should begin to form good habits when they are yet babies, for the character is 

 -surelj' then beginning to be formed — and as the beginning, so the finishing. 



Voice: I fully endorse what Mrs. Haner has said. I think as soon as the child is 

 laid in our hands is the time to begin forming its habits. We can look back and think 

 we will not do so and so, but we find we are doing it. and must change our mind and 

 tthen form habits as soon as it is laid in our hands for the future of that child. 



Mrs. Mayo: I thought when Miss Kellar was speaking of the water running over 



