Everything to a child is a model of manner, of gesture, of speech, of
habit, of character. Let these models be of the highest type. If we
would have fine characters we must necessarily present before children
fine models. The model the child constantly has in his mind’s eye is the
mother. She it is through the example she provides who sets the standard
for the child’s future. The child comes into the world with its plastic
mind open to all impressions and these it receives and retains by
outside forces. It is a very poor plan to take children to a theatre.
They cannot help but hear and see things which will cause them often to
imitate, and which may result in disaster.
A true story is told of a boy, ten years old, who was taken by his
mother to see a show. During the play the audience was treated to an
exciting domestic quarrel on the stage. One of the characters, a young
boy, was supposed to protect his mother by shooting an intruder. The boy
was applauded by the audience, which plainly showed they considered him
a hero. Henry, for this was the boy’s name who was witnessing the play,
was carried away with all that he saw and decided that he, too, would
deal likewise to anyone who would harm his mother. Some weeks later a
peddler came to his mother’s house and insisted that she buy some of his
wares. She told him she didn’t care for any, but the peddler’s voice was
rather loud and he seemed very persistent. Henry, hearing it all,
thought the time had come to imitate the actor’s bravery. He turned to a
drawer, took his father’s pistol and without one moment’s reflection
shot the peddler, but, fortunately, did not kill him. This plainly shows
what imitation in the young mind can lead to.
Example is far better than precept. In the face of bad example, the best
of precepts are of little use. Can you expect a child who constantly
sees before him ignorance, coarseness and selfishness, to grow up
anything more than the reflection of these faults?
It sometimes happens that a child brought up under these circumstances
finds himself, in adult life, placed amidst other scenes. He immediately
sees the difference and compares his training to those around him. If he
is ambitious and wants to change his mode of life, he has to commence
all over again his work of imitation. He has reason with him now to help
him, yet he will at first find it uphill work; but when he succeeds, he
will be the much better man. Should a child when he reaches adult age
care not to pluck these traits from his character, he becomes at once a
rude, dangerous member to society and a grievance to those with whom he
comes in contact.
Too much care cannot be taken in teaching the children the avoidance of
sham. This must especially be insisted on in the matter of dress. Most
all of us are fond of “fine raiment,” and we cannot help but feel that
appearances play an important part in life. It must be the avoidance of
imitating of finery and the adoption of the substantial in dress, that
we must teach our children.