714 TRAINING OF CHILDREN. 



ON THE TRAINING OF CHILDREN. 



How TO TRAIN CHILDREN THAT SHALL BE AN HONOR TO THEIR PARENTS. 



Children are sent to school to acquire knowledge, but the training 

 and developing of the coming man or woman belongs to the home. The 

 school teacher may fill the child's mind with more or less useful infor- 

 mation and sometimes the church and Sunday school may aid in the for- 

 mation of character, but all these are of little ultimate account in 

 bringing the child into the inheritance of power it is entitled to, unless 

 the parents have performed the duty toward that child which God and 

 nature and society require at their hands. 



When Parental Training Begins. It may be laid down as a 

 fundamental fact that the real influence of the parents over their child 

 begins a year or more before its birth. To bring a child into this 

 world thoughtlessly is a crime first against that child and second against 

 society. The parents' and more especially the mother's thoughts and 

 habits for at least three months prior to conception of the child, directly 

 molds or modifies the essential character and possibilities of that child. 

 This is now a fact so well established that it needs no argument. It is 

 therefore just to insist and to repeat most solemnly to all prospective 

 parents, that the training of children begins at least a year before their 

 birth. Never for one instant should they lose sight of this fact or 

 forget their responsibility. The well-known historical case of Cardon,' 

 the criminal, is a terrible evidence. Both his parents were moral, 

 highly respected citizens. But the boy was an unwelcome child and 

 during the conceptional period the mother was cross and constantly 

 wishing she could destroy the foetus. After birth she found she loved 

 the child, but could not control him. He became one of the worst of 

 criminals and the fathei of other criminals. It is a fact beyond dis- 

 pute that children who are not loved before birth are very seldom 

 affectionate, companionable or agreeable. 



The mother, by keeping her thoughts, hopes and aspirations con- 

 stantly and persistently upon high and noble things during pregnancy, 

 can largely influence the character of the future child. Napoleon's 

 mother, during the month proceeding his birth, became intensely in^ 

 terested in the struggle of her native island for freedom. She became 

 thoroughly imbued with the thought of warfare and the desire for con- 

 quest. She thought of little else than conquering the enemy who had 

 invaded Corsica. Napoleon was the natural outcome. The mother of 

 Rubens, the painter, received a picture that wonderfully interested her, 

 and all though her pregnant period she thought of pictures and wished 

 for art and the power to depict scenes and faces. Thus she gave the 

 suggestion to her coming son, while he was being formed within h^ , 

 that developed into the great artist. And so every woman may give 

 to her expected child the greatest education and training of its life 

 through ante-natal suggestion. 



After birth the nursing infant drinks in, with its mother's milk, 

 many lessons or influences that affect its entire future life, either for 



