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we had been discussing the advisability of taking the children to
Margate for the holidays？
〃There is trouble in store for you；〃 he tells us； regretfully； 〃but
you will get over it。〃 We feel that the future has no secret hidden
from him。
We have 〃presentiments〃 that people we love； who are climbing
mountains； who are fond of ballooning； are in danger。
The sister of a friend of mine who went out to the South African War
as a volunteer had three presentiments of his death。 He came home
safe and sound； but admitted that on three distinct occasions he had
been in imminent danger。 It seemed to the dear lady a proof of
everything she had ever read。
Another friend of mine was waked in the middle of the night by his
wife； who insisted that he should dress himself and walk three miles
across a moor because she had had a dream that something terrible was
happening to a bosom friend of hers。 The bosom friend and her
husband were rather indignant at being waked at two o'clock in the
morning； but their indignation was mild compared with that of the
dreamer on learning that nothing was the matter。 From that day
forward a coldness sprang up between the two families。
I would give much to believe in ghosts。 The interest of life would
be multiplied by its own square power could we communicate with the
myriad dead watching us from their mountain summits。 Mr。 Zangwill；
in a poem that should live； draws for us a pathetic picture of blind
children playing in a garden； laughing； romping。 All their lives
they have lived in darkness； they are content。 But； the wonder of
it； could their eyes by some miracle be opened！
＇Blind Children playing in a World of Darkness。＇
May not we be but blind children； suggests the poet； living in a
world of darknesslaughing； weeping； loving； dyingknowing nothing
of the wonder round us？
The ghosts about us； with their god…like faces； it might be good to
look at them。
But these poor； pale…faced spooks； these dull…witted； table…thumping
spirits： it would be sad to think that of such was the kingdom of
the Dead。
CHAPTER XVII
＇Parents and their Teachers。＇
My heart has been much torn of late； reading of the wrongs of
Children。 It has lately been discovered that Children are being
hampered and harassed in their career by certain brutal and ignorant
persons called； for want of a better name； parents。 The parent is a
selfish wretch who； out of pure devilment； and without consulting the
Child itself upon the subject； lures innocent Children into the
world； apparently for the purpose merely of annoying them。 The
parent does not understand the Child when he has got it； he does not
understand anything； not much。 The only person who understands the
Child is the young gentleman fresh from College and the elderly
maiden lady； who； between them； produce most of the literature that
explains to us the Child。
The parent does not even know how to dress the Child。 The parent
will persist in dressing the Child in a long and trailing garment
that prevents the Child from kicking。 The young gentleman fresh from
College grows almost poetical in his contempt。 It appears that the
one thing essential for the health of a young child is that it should
have perfect freedom to kick。 Later on the parent dresses the Child
in short clothes； and leaves bits of its leg bare。 The elderly
maiden Understander of Children； quoting medical opinion； denounces
us as criminals for leaving any portion of that precious leg
uncovered。 It appears that the partially uncovered leg of childhood
is responsible for most of the disease that flesh is heir to。
Then we put it into boots。 We 〃crush its delicately fashioned feet
into hideous leather instruments of torture。〃 That is the sort of
phrase that is hurled at us！ The picture conjured up is that of some
fiend in human shape； calling itself a father； seizing some helpless
cherub by the hair； and； while drowning its pathetic wails for mercy
beneath roars of demon laughter； proceeding to bind about its tender
bones some ancient curiosity dug from the dungeons of the
Inquisition。
If the young gentleman fresh from College or the maiden lady
Understander could be； if only for a month or two； a father！ If only
he or she could guess how gladly the father of limited income would
reply；
〃My dear； you are wrong in saying that the children must have boots。
That is an exploded theory。 The children must not have boots。 I
refuse to be a party to crushing their delicately fashioned feet into
hideous leather instruments of torture。 The young gentleman fresh
from College and the elderly maiden Understander have decided that
the children must not have boots。 Do not let me hear again that out…
of…date wordboots。〃
If there were only one young gentleman fresh from College； one maiden
lady Understander teaching us our duty； life would be simpler。 But
there are so many young gentlemen from College； so many maiden lady
Understanders； on the jobif I may be permitted a vulgarism； and as
yet they are not all agreed。 It is distracting for the parent
anxious to do right。 We put the little dears into sandals； and then
at once other young gentlemen from College； other maiden lady
Understanders； point to us as would…be murderers。 Long clothes are
fatal； short clothes are deadly； boots are instruments of torture； to
allow children to go about with bare feet shows that we regard them
as Incumbrances； and； with low cunning； are seeking to be rid of
them。
＇Their first attempt。＇
I knew a pair of parents。 I am convinced； in spite of all that can
be said to the contrary； they were fond of their Child； it was their
first。 They were anxious to do the right thing。 They read with
avidity all books and articles written on the subject of Children。
They read that a Child should always sleep lying on its back； and
took it in turns to sit awake o' nights to make sure that the Child
was always right side up。
But another magazine told them that Children allowed to sleep lying
on their backs grew up to be idiots。 They were sad they had not read
of this before； and started the Child on its right side。 The Child；
on the contrary； appeared to have a predilection for the left； the
result being that neither the parents nor the baby itself for the
next three weeks got any sleep worth speaking of。
Later on； by good fortune； they came across a treatise that said a
Child should always be allowed to choose its own position while
sleeping； and their friends persuaded them to stop at thattold them
they would never strike a better article if they searched the whole
British Museum Library。 It troubled them to find that Child
sometimes sleeping curled up with its toe in its mouth； and sometimes
flat on its stomach with its head underneath the pillow。 But its
health and temper were decidedly improved。
＇The Parent can do no right。＇
There is nothing the parent can do right。 You would think that now
and then he might； if only by mere accident； blunder into sense。
But； no； there seems to be a law