THE PROBLEM OF THE HOME 113 



is not possible to point out clearly how these ends 

 may certainly be secured, at least much good will 

 be done in showing how certain courses naturally 

 tend toward physical and moral death. 



There is another side to this subject of the 

 home ; it is that of the training of children. About 

 that are to be said many things which will come 

 more properly in the next chapter on The Prob- 

 lems of Education. Some things, however, belong 

 here, as they relate especially to children in the 

 home. 



If all children were alike, the problem of train- 

 ing a family would be comparatively easy ; the 

 process which had succeeded with one could be 

 repeated with the others. But no two children 

 are precisely alike. Each is an individual, and 

 therefore essentially unique. I was once at dinner 

 with a friend, whose daughters were at the table. 

 A glance showed that they were not alike, though 

 they were twins. One was blonde ; the other bru- 

 nette. One was quick ; the other slow and shrewd. 

 It was very evident that, should their parents adopt 

 exactly the same methods with those children, one 

 would certainly fail to receive the discipline and 

 culture which she needed. We frequently hear 

 the remark, " This child is unlike all others in my 

 family." Wherever that is true, the difference 



