SAFEGUARDS TO PURITY.

Otago Witness, Issue 1241, 11 September 1875, Page 19

SAFEGUARDS TO PURITY.

There are many parents who fancy they can bring up children, and especially their daughters, in a large degree ignorant of the evil that's in the world. As the king in the fairy tale banished all spinning wheels from his dominions, that his daughter might not wound her fingers with a spindle, and realize the prophecy of the spiteful fairy ather christening, even so mothers withhold useful and necessary knowledge from their daughters lest with it may be mingled something leading to harm. And even as this charming princess, notwithstanding every precaution, as by accident came upon the only spinning wheel in the realm, was wounded by the spindle, and fell into her hundred years' slumber, so often does the young lady unawares stumble upon experiences of whose possible existence she never dreamed, and. which are far more disastrous to her than those that befell the sleeping beauty. Boys and girls as they grow will learn the ins and outs of this wicked world. If their parents do not give them this knowledge, somebody else will, and the manner in which the information is given is in all moral respects vastly more important than the matter. The parent may instruct the child in everything it should know, satisfy its curiosity within proper limits, and thus preoccupy the ground that otherwise would be sown by chance cultivators more with tares of vice than with the wheat of knowledge. It is simply astonishing how soon young children pick up slang words, vile words, profane words, and attach to them meanings. It is equally surprising how instinctively they conceal all this knowledge from their parents, land while the mother thinks her little girl a model of innocence and purity, her neighbour may know that such is very far from being the case. Therefore it is not possible for the mother to cultivate too great an intimacy with her child. She should have the juvenile heart spread out before her as a mirror, reflecting every thought, every feeling, every passion of the child. Thus she will be able judiciously to administer antidotes to vice and build up safeguards to virtue.

Girls are as a general rule brought up in ignorance of very much which it most concerns them to know. Many a youn«* lady dances on the verge of a precipice" not knowing her danger, and may fall from virtue because her mother had not the courage to warn her of the pitfalls in her pathway and the ateps leading thitherward. The love of purity,

like the love of knowledge and the love of fame, grows by what it feeds on, and dies if it have not suitable nutriment. The girl and boy who have steadily held up before their eyes an ideal of high and pure womanhood and manhood, who are taught from early childhood that their bodies and their souls are alike sacred to purity, will hardly fail to realize in maturity the highest wishes of their parents in these respects. Heroic virtue is never the result of ignorance in man or woman. We who know the shoals along the entrance to mature life should build lighthouses on sunken reefs, plant buoys in dangerous places, and build lifeboats for the rescue of the shipwrecked. In his prayer for his disciples, Christ said, " I pray not that thou shouldest take them out of the world, but that thou shouldest keep them from the evil." Purity is not inconsistent with knowledge of evil, and as soon as a child is old enough to wander from the right way, he should be instructed in the dangers that are most likely to befall him, and the way in which they can be avoided. When there is a perfect understanding between parents and children ; when the daughter feels that she can confide every thought and desire of her heart to her mother, and the son is in full sympathy and counsel with his father, there is little danger that the happiness of the parents will be wrecked by the profligaoy of their children. Many grown people seem to think there is no harm done in evading questions asked by children, or in giving such answers as totally mislead and confuse them. This is a woful mistake, and most disastrous consequences follow it. Truth never injures anybody, and though it may be diluted, so to speak, when given to children, any falsehood mingled with it is deadly poison. The ranks of fallen women in our great city are largely recruited from the country. Rarely does I any young woman knowing her danger become identified with this unfortunate class, and young men who have been forewarned by judicious parents of the alluring temptations which seek them out on every hand are too wise to wander far from the paths of virtue.— New Fork Tribune.

Paint. — Soda should never be used in washing paint. The best way to do it is to put a handful of finely-powdered whitening into a bowl, having ready a piece of soft flannel and some clean warm water. Wet the flannel, squeeze it dry, dip it into the whitening, and rub the paint up and down until it is clean. Wash otf with cold water ; and when it is nearly dry, finish it with a soft leather. If the paint be very dirty, mix a little bullock's gall with the whitening. In washing the wainscot, care must be taken not to touch the edge of the paper .with the wet flannel, as this would give the room a shabby appearance.

A Hint on Healthy Dress.—Multitudes of persons of both sexe3 lose health and oftentimes life, by " busying themselves until warm and weary, and then throwing themselves on a bed or sofa, without covering, or in a room without a fire, or by removing their outer garments after a long walk. If you have to walk and ride both, do" the riding first, and, on returning, go to a warm room, keep on all your wraps until cool, even if you suffer some discomfort.

Chilblains. — (I.) Strong oil of peppermint uaed as an ointment on chilblains removes the itching sensation almost instantly, and a few applications effect a cure. (2.) Take equal parts by weight of lard and nitric acid, stir together with a porcelain or glass spatula and apply mornings and nights. The skin hardens, peels otf, and with it go chilblains, bunions, and corns. A piece of kid should be used in applying it, as it will have the same effect on the fingers as on the chilblains.

A little time every day or twice a week given to reading, though it seems but an aggravation to the burdened housewife, will, in the course of years, tell upon her information, and enable the mother to be a mother to her children when they are grown not less than when they are in leading strings, to be a companion to her husband, and an authority to her grandchildren.

A found aud a half of salt rubbed into twenty-five pounds of beef will corn it so as to last several days in ordinary warm weather ; or put it in strong brine.

Corn-fed pork is best. Pork made by still-house slops is almost poisonous, and hogs that live on offal never furnish healthful food. If hogs are proptrly fed, the pork is not unhealthful.

Floriline !— For the Tekth and Breath. —A few drops of the liquid "Floriline sprinkled on a wet tooth-brush produce a pleasant lather, which thoroughly cleanses the teeth from all parasites or impurities, hardens the gums, prevents tartar, stops decay, gives to the teeth a peculiar pearly-whiteness, and a delightful fragrance to the breath. It removes all unpleasant odour arising from decayed teeth or tobacco smoke. " The Fragrant Floriline," being composed in part of honey and sweet herbs, is delicious to the taste, and the greatest toilet discovery of the age. Sold everywhere at 2s 6d. Prepared by Henry C. Gallup, 493 Oxford Street, jLontlon. 17ap

Advice to Mothers ! — Are you broken in your rest by a sick child suffering with the pain of cutting teeth ? Go at once to a chemist and get a bottle of Mrs Winslow's Soothing Syrup. It will relieve the poor sufferer *mmediatcly. It is perfectly harmless and pleasant to taste, it produces natural, quiet sleep, by relieving the child from pain, and the little cherub awakes "as bright as a button." It 3oothes the child, it softens the gums, allays all pain, reb'eves wind, regulates the bowels, and is the best known remedy for dysentery and diarrhoea, whether arising from teething or other causes. Sold everywhere at Is l^d per bottle. Manufactory 493 Oxford Street, London. 17ap