POOR LITTLE CHILDREN
Sir,—l was sorry not to see Mr. Powles's lasc letter on behalf of tlie little dancing eluidiren supported. But ALr. I'owles need have no upprehension that he is a voice 'crying in the wilderness. Plenty of-people are of. his opinion. 1 lor one think it is pitiful to see little children kept out of their beds night auer night mid put to fatiguing exercises when they shound be recuperating their little bodies in sleep. No mother really believes that the children are really impiroveil l>y inese nocturnal exercises; and when a little child is encouraged to imitate grimaces and oglings of which she should-be entirely ignorant, and-.which nature will teach her nothing about for the' next ten years, the thins, in my opinion, calls for thi atteution of the moralist and the philosopher at least. There must be some wu/ of reaching tne hearts of mothers who condemn children to such unwholesome exercises, and ot the friends who support them by going to see the exercises, and of the other friende who "write rhapsodies aiaout toddlers hardly old enough to stag•sev along a straight line as if thev were young Taglionis. Let me not be misunderstood. 1 think dancing is one of the finest exercises that growing boys and girls can be taught. It tenches them to move the lim'os with precision and grace, and we know that among the ancient Greeks, the physically finest race ,tho world ever saw, the young man's education was complete when to could dance I and play the cithara. What I object to is the exhibition by infancy tf exercises which are not only foreign to it, but which are injurious to it.. Playing at dancing is another,thing, .And children of seven should be abed at.eight.—l am, etC " F. V. WATERS. Wellington, October 29.
Sir,—l was pleased to see in your columns the letter headed "Poor Little Children," and 1 wish to endorse the writer's remarks with regard to the danger of late hours and scanty attire at public performances of these children, especially in such a climate as ours. As a medical man I must most emphatically protest against parents exposiug I heir children to risks, that, at such an age, will more than probably lay the foundation of physical ill-health in after life. Quite recently I had to prohibit one of these little children from continuing to ap-' pear- ai-a dancing performance, as examination 'clearly showed' that "such practice and exposure were undermining the child's health aud leadiug to sumption. I do not object to dancing us a physical exercise, under proper conditions and hours, but Htronjjly deprecute what would appear to be the total lack of recognition of responsibility in. parents when children of tender yeara are allowed to take part in such perform: unces, which I regard in every way as inimical to their physical well-being. I consider that this is a matter which might very well be taken up by the S.P.W.CV or thd Minister of Public Health should see that the children ul the Dominion are properly protected, es. pedally at such a time as this, when th( youth of the country has been so much depleted.-! am, etc.,
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Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 33, 2 November 1918, Page 3
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534POOR LITTLE CHILDREN Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 33, 2 November 1918, Page 3
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