I860.] 



THE SOUTHERN PLANTER. 



703 



the man, woman or child, who is exposed to 

 the influence of such a temper in another. 

 Nine-tenths of all domestic trials and un- 

 happiness spring from this source. Mrs. A. 

 is of this temperament; she wonders that 

 * her husband is not more fond of -her com- 

 pany ; that her children give her so much 

 trouble ; that domestics do not like to work 

 for her; that she cannot secure the good 

 will of young people. The truth is, that 

 she is peevish and fretful. Children fear, 

 but do not love her. She never gained the 

 affections of a young person, nor ever will — 

 till she leaves off fretting and scolding. 



Don't scold, — for it defeats the end of 

 family government. Good family govern- 

 ment requires the blending of authority 

 with affection, so as to secure respect and 

 love. Indeed, it is the great secret of man- 

 aging young people. Your fretters and 

 scolders may inspire' fear, but they generally 

 make two faults where they correct one. 

 Scolding at a child, sneering at a child, 

 taunting a child, as though it had no feel- 

 ings, inspires dread and dislike, and fosters 

 those very dispositions from which many of 

 the faults of childhood proceed. Mr. B. 

 and Mrs. C. are both of this class. Their 

 children mind them — 0, yes! they are made 

 to mind. But how ? By fretting and scold- 

 ing. By severe treatment of their faults. 

 The parents seem to watch for faults ; they 

 rarely give commands without a threat, and 

 a long running fault-finding commentary. 

 When they chide, it is not done in a digni- 

 fied manner. They raise their voice, put on 

 a cross look, threaten, strike, pinch ears, 

 slap heads, cut short their allowance at 

 meals, etc. Then the children cry, pout, 

 sulk, and poor Mr. B. and C. have their 

 work to do over again. And then Mrs. C. 

 finds fault with her husband, or Mr. B. with 

 his wife, because one will not fall in with 

 the other's way, or chime with the chorus. 



Don't scold, — for 'tis displeasing to God. 

 It is evil, only evil, and that continually. 

 David understood both human nature and 

 the law of God; and he says, "Fret not 

 thyself in anywise to do evil;" that is, never 

 fret or scold, for it is always a sin. If you 

 cannot speak without fretting or scolding, 

 hold your tongue. 



"Make yourself clearly acquainted with 

 the rules of politent3ss and propriety/ so that 

 you may improve your manners." 



The Japanese and Chinese. 



The following is an extract of a letter 

 from Richard H. Dana, jr., who has recently 

 visited Japan : 



A word more as to the contrast between 

 the Chinese and the Japanese. It should 

 not be given entirely in favor of the Japan- 

 ese, as Oliphant gives it. These Chinese 

 are more scholarly, more literary, more in- 

 dustrious, more peaceable and more decent. 

 No where on earth is external decency more 

 rigidly observed than in China. Not the 

 sisters of the religious orders are more mo- 

 destly attired than the women of China. 

 Nothing could induce even the girls of the 

 flower boats — perhaps as abandoned as any 

 women in the world — to expose the neck or 

 the arm in their dress, and the evening 

 dress of a European lady is revolting to 

 their ideas of propriety. Nowhere are in- 

 dustry and learning more honored than in 

 China. The literati are the ruling crder, 

 the military are an inferior class; and every 

 election and office is open to the successful 

 scholar, under their competitive system, 

 without the obstructions of rank or heredi- 

 tary castes. The industry of China is in- 

 finitesimal, unceasing and universal. The 

 Chinese are a nation of corn-traders, scho- 

 lars and diplomatists. The Japanese, though 

 by no means indolent, are less universally 

 industrious, and there are more non-produc- 

 ing consumers among them. They are more 

 violent, more intemperate in drink, and are 

 shameless where the Chinese are scrupulous 

 in the extreme; and, though they are gen- 

 erally taught to read and write, and excel 

 the Chinese in some branches of the arts 

 and sciences, scholarship has not the posi- 

 tion and honors it has in China. On the 

 other hand, while the Chinese are effeminate, 

 luxurious and self-complacent, the Japanese 

 are proud, manly and simple in their food 

 and costume, and their government, though 

 more exclusive and more bloody, is more 

 vigorous and just, with less of corruption 

 and peculation. 



Cheap Fruit Cake. — One cup sugar; 

 1 cup butter; £ cup buttermilk; 1 teaspoon 

 soda; 8 eggs; 1 cup raisins; 1 cup common 

 currants. Chop the raisins and currants 

 very fine. 



Pound Cake. — One pound butter; one 

 ■ of flour; one of sugar; and eight eggs; 

 | season with cloves ; nutmeg or cinnamon. 



