CHILDHOOD'S HEROES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20596, 21 June 1930, Page 27 (Supplement)

CHILDHOOD'S HEROES.

REFORMED NURSERY BtfmES.

EVERYBODY NOW GOOD. . Thousands of children throughout the British Isles awakened on Monday, May 5, to discover that while they had slept the legendary • heroes and villains of ■ their nursery rhymes had been drastically reformed. They were asked without notice to adapt themselves to a new fictionary, world peopled by " goodygoodies" who would, not dream, of doing anything that is cruel or naughty. And, incidentally, they were asked to learn all their nursery rhymes over again! . The day mentioned marked- the' beginning of a vigorous campaign against the time-honoured nursery rhyme. It- was inaugurated by the-'National Council for Animals' Welfare to mark the beginning of the Animal Welfare Week, and the organising body was a committee on which Lady Cl'aro Anuesley served as a member. .• i Prominent authorities on child psychology—once again—-have' decided that tlie old' nursery rhymes are unsuited to young children, as in almost every case they make mention of all manner of unpleasant characters, who act in a very wicked fashion. They are certainly not—according to the council—-tho sort of folk to acquaint . young children with, for almost every .rhyme deals with some form of cruelty. , , , The old rhymes have been scrapped, arjd -replaced by a set of moralised ones The new characters can scarcely be recognised. < "Tom, Tom," the notorious piper s spn, for, instance," steals pigs no longer, but lias' a new occupation: , •Tom. Tom. the piper's, son. Takes neighbour's dogs for a daily run. They look so sweet, it, is a treat To watch them ruhninc down the street. Old King. Cole now has to behave like, a respectable citizen. Even Boy Blue" and. "Margery Daw.' arc paragons of .virtue. The blackbirds . who were formerly baked in a pie—and somehow managed to survive the ordeal—arc now actually fed with the pie of ' which they formerly formed a part. ' Perhaps in gratitude for this concession, and feeling no longer hungry,, suggests an English writer, tho blackbird who bit off the maid's nose will kindly replace .the missing portion. The famous trio of blind mic* who in the old. rhyme 'were deprived of thentails receive a piece of cheese from the lady who once tormented them: Three blind mice. See how they run: .. They all run after the farmer s wife. Who cuts them some cheese with a great big knife. . . Did you ever see such a sight in your life. As three blyid mice. Very sedate and proper, 110 doubt, but not quite so" interesting. Here is another example: \ Ding, dong bell. Treat your pussy well. Who'll give her milk? Littlo Johnny Silk. * Who'll brush her coat ? Little Tommy Loat.. What a lucky boy is that Who has a pretty pussy cat!