AMERICAN CHILDREN.

Temuka Leader, Issue 7553, 16 April 1914, Page 3

AMERICAN CHILDREN.

'" LIMBS " AND " TERRORS." In the United States relatives describe small boys, with proud i'atisfac'ion, as 'perfect limbs" or 'Tegular little terrors," and the quietest and best-hearted of boys have to try to justify their reputation. ' Such American books as "A Fad Toy's Diary" or '"Duster Brown" t-ho.v what is expected of the poor children, who are not really grotesquely vulgar and unkind. Pcoi-lc seam to expect to find all their o.vn faults quits unchecked by any commoincnsc or self-control in children. When my husband and I were in the States last year we frequently rode a push-b'icyc le with a chair attached to it. In Belgium this had been greeted with loud shouts of derision by everybody, but especially by the small boys. It enly attracted from the American small boy quietly approving comment?, such as, '"Gosh. ! tlyit ds a fins idea, Gee ! wouldn't I like one li'.e that." Once my h-inlkerchief flew out of my hand, and was carried by the wind into a group of boys, one of whom instantly caught lit up and returned it with ready politeness.

'lrn American boy ksrnly appreciates any plaything that has whocls. The tiny person in. petticoats drags a little truck behind him along the pavement,; as ho grows older hn has a waggon (large enough to carry a passenger), a tricycle-horsc, a P la y motor-car, a bicycle. Nearly all the motor-cars one sees about are driven by amateurs, not by profsssional chauffers. We used to watch a horrible game that certainly would not have been allowed in any In-;-lish town. Down a steap hi 1, into a thronged road with tram-rai'.s and much various traffic, a <lo"cn> small boys would rattle, lying hrad downwards, on little v.ood.n waggons, which they steered only by o;:a ionally scraping one t. 02 on the ground. Bad accidents had happen cl, but a long time ago, So no one interfere:!. The boys are, when appealed to, quick to understand and to feci, anxious to help, eager not to injure anything. A small boy in en? of our hotels U93d to watch for me take me up in the lift whenever he could when he fonl I was strong enough to moi nt the stairs. He was a lad of 13, and he used to take me out on the roof, saying cheerily, "If your chair icn't just where you want it you l'ing Ul3 lift-bell and I'll come and fix it right lor you." Then away he wou'd go, neither desiring nor -expecting any gift or reward.— "Telegraih."