Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 22, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 January 1917 — THAINING TODAY'S BOYS AND GIRLS [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THAINING TODAY'S BOYS AND GIRLS

Happy Child Is the One That Travels Peacefully. KEEPING HIM GOOD, NATURED i “Busy Work” for Fidgety Little Hands, A Set of Simple Amusements, and ■ ; Mother's Train Problem Is No Problem at All.

By SIDONIE M. GRUENBERG.

WHEN the train stopped at the first station, the older of the two women near the end of the ear looked out nervously to see who was getting on. She was not awaiting anyone; she was only worrying lest some children get aboard and mai»e the rest of the trip miserable for her. Some’ children did get on—three of them, with only one mother' to take care of them. Then the nervous woman f«dt sure there would he trouble, ami her companion Hrnhi tfdr <mnf<>rt her. She knew-the children would be running about and shouting: that they would be restless "ahtTTbnier the mnt.her_for._a_<l l±nk<>r for candy, and that they would surely uiiike her journey miserable. She only dated hope tbar they would nor stay on tlie train long. And when the train started .off. tigaiu, she settled down comfortably to a good, old-fasliioued fretting sjudl. •And at the same. time she mother of the three children settled down comfortably to a whole day’s travel. First she him get a table. At this she placed the two older children, with— tr-box of colored crayons and .some outline pictures. The children set to work comparing notes as to the color to be used for the horses or ships, and babbling continuously about the incidents suggested by the pletures. The youngest child was given some beads, with which he played nnfi.l he fell asleep;; and the mother took occasion to sit back quietly and rest while there was ytilt a chancer . When .the children tired of working with the crayons the mother dipped -into--her baggage again., and, brought forth some “cut-out” pictures, with two pairs of du) I-nosed scissors. Sorting, the pictures and__.decidiiig which, ones were to be attacked first helped to eat up some of the time, and then they were busy nearly an hour —with the interruptions at stations and occaslonai glances at the moving landscape. After a short period of relaxation the children were again ready to do something, ami the mother suggested reading a story. This seemed to meet drew a book: thg. children selected the story, and the mother read to them'. They stopped to look at the pictures and to discuss the ethics—of—Jacktsinaking way with the giant's wealth, the elder boy contending that it was not really stealing, since the giant had taken it from Jack's father. Then the baby awoke and mother observed that it was time for luncheon. This was dispatched in a happy and leisurely manner. After luncheon had beeiT cleared a way Tfnmiother produced a couple of “Sfampkraft” books, containing “Mother Goose” or. fairy tales, with packets of “poster stamps.” The selection and comparing and pasting of these stamps kept the children busy and the mother, was able to give

all of her attention to the baby. The older child finished his book of stamps first, and then watched the younger one with the superior air of a critical but sympathetic elder. When the booklets were completed the older child read the stories and pointed out the suitability'of the poster stamps and their shortcomings, and the other child did the same with the JfMotlier Goose” rhymes. Then tbev played with the baby f«>r awhile, tinti| the mother felt that it was time to start some tiling else. She was prepared for the change, and brought forth a queer contrivance consisting of a pane of glass hinged along one edge to a flat box. The glass was set upright, a picture placed fiat on one side and a blank sheeFoTpaper on the other. By looking into the glass from the side having the picture, one dan see a reflection of the picture and also the hand .with the pencil *OO the other side. 4 This arrangement makes it easy to make a copy of a picture on a blank paper, 4 since the process Is the same as tracing the outlines di reetly. This was apparently new to the children, and they went with zeal. They tried first the pictures that came with the toy, and when they tired of drawing they experimented" «irb the pictures Id the magazines, to

aee how they looked In this wonderful’ magic mirror. But this also had Its limits, and when flagging interest Indicated the need for a change, the mother Introduced the toy railroad outfit, consisting of miniature tickets., baggage checks, pjmch, cap. etc. The older boy declared that he should be the conductor, and the mother, with baby in her lap, played the role of a passenger. In a few minutes the field of operations was extended beyond the seats occupied by the family, and every passenger in the Car was given an opportunity to hold a ticket to some remote destination. Even the nervous person declared that she would he glad to travel to the end of the line In fcueh good company. When the train did at last get to the end of the line, after eight hours of travel, the mother took off the three children that had aroused the apprehensions. of the nervous woman. They were very tired, hut still good-natured and ready for any new excitement that might appear above the brink of the

next moment. And the nervous lady—' she had forgot tetr to be worried. When traveling by land dr by water —or when staying at home in the city 0r... country —the troublesome .child is usually the child that does not know “wTiarfirtTovvi th Turnself and the “good" child is the one that is occupied. When our grandparents said “Satan finds some mischief still for idle hands -to-do.- their theology or demonology may have been questionable; but their psychology was certainly sound. The safety-first rule for children—traveling or not —is. Keep,Busy!

Ready to Travel.

Good ,If Kept Busy.