Show r CHILDREN ARE NOT NATURALLY CRUEL It is a very general belief that chil- chil children chil children dren ren are arc natura naturally cruel and one fre frequently fre- fre frequently hears suds such phrases as the the cruelty of at childhood cl or all children c are cruel but they they outgrow outgrow oty it a as if cruelty were like h or sim- sim simplicity sim simplicity an of childhood in- in inseparable in inseparable separable from the state stale of infancy A A cruel nature of course shows itself such in infancy Y as ns a one will show gen generosity rosity or 01 a lazy one indolence but T in itse itself f that is enjo enjoyment ment ui causin causing or wit wit- witnessing wit witnessing nessin suffering if il i not a character character- characteristic characteristic characteristic of childhood t The baby who pl pI ys S 'S with a kitten holding it up by it tail or clutching itt its fur crowing w V h h delight at the little creatures creature's en cri s 5 of pain is not cruel because it h s no idea that it itis itis itis is infecting pain Even the older e co 1 Id ld who chases the I butterfly crushing it to death in n a ahot hot little hand is not ot of cruel for forr he also is too i ignorant o 0 know what suf suf- suffering suffering suffering fering he has cau caus d Let no tender tende hearted hearted mother grieve over her c ch Id Id having a cruel nature because he torments the kit kit- kitten kitten kit kitten ten or kills flies On the other ha id d do not let her console herself will the thc reflection that cruelty is a inseparable from childhood hood andone and one which hick ho will out out- outgrow outgrow out grow grow as he s others There is no more insidious vice vico than cruelty none with a mot more mol deleterious effect on the character r The chil child that i is i suffered uncheck uncheck- unchecked unchecked unchecked ed to torture an animal will soon pass from an unc to a con con con- con con-cious dous cious fron Iron careless infliction inti of f pain to enjo enjoying in the he sight of suffer suffer- sufferIng suffering Ing ing suffering from the torture tenure of animals t to tot o t the e hurting g of sn smaller lIer brothers and d sisters Bisters For the giving giving- pain pai n grows quickly S Sometimes it origin origin- originates originates painI I ates in the love Jove of or power The child knows himself weak and helpless in the inthe hands of his elders and finds a pleasure in proving g himself strong and powerful to toa a a a creature feebler than himself and this is easiest shown by hurting and lightening 1 it t But kindness must m must st be tall taught hl Weeds only are arc self sown self we need but leave the garden for lor and before long we find iti i overgrown with weeds But we the must sow and plant and tend with ith care if we w would have our garden filled with sweet flowers and fruit j |