Our little men and women; modern methods of character building; . CHILDHOOD LIFE IN MANY LANDS By Rev. Peter MacQueen, F. R. G. S. IN olden days it is said that shining angels came and tookmen by the hand and led them away from a wicked citythat was about to be destroyed by fire. We never see white-winged angels now: yet men are led away from threateningdestruction. A hand is put into theirs, which leads them forthgently towards a calm, bright land, from which they do notwish to turn back, and this hand may be that of a little child. The harsher ambitions of maturity have no place in thepresen
Our little men and women; modern methods of character building; . CHILDHOOD LIFE IN MANY LANDS By Rev. Peter MacQueen, F. R. G. S. IN olden days it is said that shining angels came and tookmen by the hand and led them away from a wicked citythat was about to be destroyed by fire. We never see white-winged angels now: yet men are led away from threateningdestruction. A hand is put into theirs, which leads them forthgently towards a calm, bright land, from which they do notwish to turn back, and this hand may be that of a little child. The harsher ambitions of maturity have no place in thepresence of a baby; the sweet dreams of youth,—untarnisheddreams inspired by love more intense than any known or feltbefore,—come with the coming of Baby: the wonderful littlebundle of potentialities to whom, it seems, nothing is impos-sible. Not a contemplation of the tiny hand but leads themother-fancy far afield, wondering to what uses that hand maycome, in time, what part it will play in the worlds work; not. CHILDHOOD IN MANY LANDS 219 an uncovering of the pink feet but suggests anxious question-ings and imaginings, in an effort to guess where these feetwill tread, ere their journey is done: not a glance into the babyeyes but the fond heart thinks of the tears unshed and the smilesunguessed that are lurking there for the years to come. It isnt the czar or the kaiser or the sultan or any king whoreally rules this world; and it isnt the Stars and Stripes or theUnion Jack or any other banner that inspires the sternest com-promises, the greatest self-sacrifices, the noblest ideals,—it isbaby, King baby, who for a few short years, at least, has manythings according to his own sweet will. In every land through-out this wide earth there are children, and they are the nucleusof the home-life, in whatever state of development that may you like to witness the charm of a tyranny that can keepthe whole world enslaved? Then let me invite you to make afew brief and polite calls
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