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Show I "ROBBED OF MY CHILDHOOD," CRIES REBEL PRODIGY OF 14 If You Daddies and Mammas Have a Plan to Make Your Kiddies Wise Before Their Time, Heed Well Susan Jenkins' Solemn Warning "Don't let the cynical ramarka of your paronta atop your day dreamt," ia little Susan's advice. By DJUNA BARNES. thnt the atmosphere In which the child f OF Vmrv tlttldk vit-la Via ha. n li..-. NEW YORK, Keb. 2. If you. fond Parents, are planning to make your child a prodigy, abandon tho idea! The revolution of the prodigies has come. The clarion call lo battle Is sounded by a 14.yeiir.nl,! If'--1 "(live children their childhood!" Is her battle cry. The little rebel la Susan Jenkins. "I've been robbed of my childhood." aha complains, "but I hope to aave other children. She Is 14 years old and la tha authoress author-ess of a book to be published early in tha aprlng the title Is "When Children Were Children," and It has a subtitle "Advice Before It la Too Lata." ULTRAMODERN CHILD. Mlaa Jenkins la a very modern young lady, her mother Is a prominent clubwoman, club-woman, and her father Is a politician. But thia ultramodern infant laments the old fashioned child, and haa very definite ideas about children and what ahould be done to keep them from growing wise before their time. Klrst of all, little Husnn maintains of today is reared ia "far too psychological" psychologi-cal" she further asserts that too much energy ia spent in perfecting children In socle! graces, making snobs of them at the tenderest ages." Susan also regrets "her own sophistication" sophis-tication" she laments those childish Joys which sh". "i;ve so inativmudcj'ii cTiildren, have never known." DON'TS FOR CHILDREN. In her llttlo brochure she offers a simple solution it reads most convincingly: con-vincingly: and it ia for the ear of the child itself. "Don't be afraid (o whistle, to blow your horn, to heat drums. "Don't hesitate to take your pet rat. I or dog. to bed with you. "Don't let the cynical looks and remarks re-marks of your parents atop your day dreams." There Is a special chapter devoted to little boys: , "Don't be afraid to ask for two helpings help-ings of pie. "Don't walk home from achool, run if you want to. "Keep worma In your pocketa If you must." "Don't let your ribbons keep you from being real audacious." DONTS FOR ADULTS. And, of course, there's a chapter for erowjiups. "Don'l tnnnh Jiilli. chll'llTl history. Invent It, tell them stories this will make them develop their imaginative power. "Don't thwart all the natural Instincts In-stincts children should be both aeen and heard. "Don't take your children to see plays that were meant for adults, do not read them French novels, and don't use the word 'Don t aa much aa I am having to." When little Susan waa Interviewed in person, she talked with the fire and seal of a real revolutionary. "Sou know what I really think," she-raised she-raised her large frank eyes; "I really think people are spoiling everything by wanting to know too much about everything they want to see the wheels go round," and here she paused. "It's awfully bad for the wheels, you know." she finished. - - |