Children’s Fear of Darkness.

Western Star, Issue 2152, 30 October 1897, Page 4

Children’s Fear of Darkness.

A fear of being left alone in the dark is almost universal among little children, and yet, in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, it is purely instinctive, and is not founded on personal experience. In civilised countries there is no greater danger to child-life in the dark than in the daylight. The feeling of fear generally lacks definition as much as it lacks foundation, but accompanied with it is an imagination preternaturally alert, which confers frightful shapes and qualities upon all dimly-seen objects. Fear is obviously one of the most effective conservative forces in Nature. 'The jealousy which so many little children display, especially when the possession of some favourite dainty is in question, is another proof that in hard times it was necessary for each to acquire as big a share of the spoil as possible. If the morsel chanced to be the last obtainable when a prolonged fast was impending, a selfish and jealous child might, by securing a double portion, hold out while others perished. But It is plain that jealousy and selfishness were not invariably the qualities which were most helpful in the struggle for life during the primitive ages. Most babies, even before they can talk, will ostentatiously offer their nurses or parents a share of their food at the very time when they show the greatest repugnance to giving any to other children. Obviously the primitive child learned by sad experience that, in dealing with adults, a policy of conciliation and reciprocity paid better in the long run than one of brutal acquisitiveness. We see precisely the same motives prevalent today in political and commercial affairs. —“ North American Review.”