PERIODS OF DEVELOPMENT 119 



tastes may be formed and modified. Feelings lie 

 quite close to the instincts. For this reason it has 

 been thought that they could not be changed. But 

 even the instincts of animals can be modified. A 

 chicken, if not given the opportunity to follow 

 within the first few days, will never develop it; 

 or, if opportunity is given, will learn to follow 

 human beings. When quite young an animal may 

 be made vicious by teasing, which by kindness 

 could be made docile and kind. A colt may be so 

 fooled with as to be almost useless afterwards as 

 a horse. So the habitual mood of a child may 

 be turned this way or that to a very essential de- 

 gree. A child may be teased into habitual sus- 

 picion. He may be nagged into habitual defen- 

 siveness. A great battle in after life may be 

 brought about by the carelessness with which he 

 is handled. Many people handle babies as if they 

 were playthings, entirely for their own amuse- 

 ment, regardless of the present or permanent im- 

 pression on their nature. They do not forecast the 

 permanent twist made in the disposition by their 

 thoughtless actions and words. Yet there is no 

 future time when the impressions made are so 

 deep and, therefore, so permanent. Thoughtless 

 hands should never touch a child. 



Character's formation is largely the question 

 of the acquirement of certain tastes. When these 

 lie deep down in the nature they will load the 

 balances of the great decisions made in life be- 

 tween the right road and the wrong. Does a child 



