PREPARATION FOR PARENTHOOD.

White Ribbon, Volume 14, Issue 151, 16 December 1907, Page 5

PREPARATION FOR PARENTHOOD.

lls Mrs .MABEL L. CONKLIN

For every other art of life preparation is made, but for tile feart illly solemn aet of giving to the world a human life, generally no thought or preparation is given. I was once the guest tor a brief while of an eminent scientist who has done much to open the eyes of the thinking world ns to the vital need of preparation for parenthood. In his laboratory In* showed me an apparatus whereby lie could take the breath of ai: individual, condense it. and by means of chemical agents he could tell from the result the exact mental condition of that person at the moment the breath was taken, whether he or she was labouring under great excitement, moroseness. anger, or if ill a perfectly normal frame of mind. If the very breath is affected by physical and mental conditions, how terribly vital, therefore, is the need of weeks, yes, months, of mental, spiritual, and physical preparation for tin* duty of assuming parenthood. Inasmuch as the athlete waxes strong for the appointed contest by months of total abstinence from all physical indulgence, just so do men and women insure to their offspring the largest legacy ot mental. moral, and physical strength who themselves conform to tin* law ot chastity during the months ot preparation for motherhood. Were it tin* rule and not the exception for couples desiring children to conscientiously prepare tor parenthood, the accidental or unwelcome child would be an impossibility. As it is. the unwelcome child is the rule; and it is a pitiful fact that largo numbers of children are constantly being born who are received with a sob instead ot a kiss, who come into tin* world knowing that there is no place for them, no love awaiting them here; for they have had indelibly stamped upon them for long months the consciousness that they are not wanted. N it any wonder, then, that there are so many morose, sullen, unmanageable, even criminal children in our land? Are they not born so. made so bv their mothers during the mi-

pressionable period preceding tin ir birth ? Were it generally comprehended that from its earliest moment a child is as much a human as when months later it becomes a visible factor in tin* world, much of the awful conditions now existing would he overcome. In conversation with a superintendent of a penitentiary recently. I asked the quest ion :

I low do von account for so liianv

murderers?"

In blank amazement lie replied : “ Do yon -you, who are studying ihcsc subjects constantly, ask that."

Why. aren't they born so. made so by their mothers? Do you suppose for a moment that tin* murderous thoughts and deeds of mothers during expectancy do not bear fruit in the lives of their children ?"

This period of expectant motherhood. is Cod's probation time, as it were, when a mother can make of her child, a little god or a little demon. She builds character, decides destiny, and under no other conditions docs she need so much to live on the very highest planes of thought and deed as now. The Spartan mothers gave to the world the strongest race the world has ever seen, because they lived in the world Beautiful during these months, absolutely free from all ignoble influences. Purity Advocatt.