Utilising Sisters.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4839, 12 July 1884, Page 1

Utilising Sisters.

The West Philadelphia small-boy who launched his sister,frpm jthe second story window equipped with a pair of wings and a open umbrellk deserTes a great deal of credit in spite'of thb' failure of his experiment. ;■■ .-. ■• -!•-•'? ■■'^;:- ;*-i:. f-..i<y 'Ui l^'t -;:;ir,>^iv\.;;, r .\ : :

There ig a popular idij^^ba^the prdtn«. ary smalt boy flacking iri'Cautibn^/This is an srror.V Tbe small-boy is pre-eminently jautious,. .Look for a moment at his atti-' , tude towards the parachute. It is^ one of . the; traditions'of. small-b^hbod^ that^any one can safely jump from: the;top of ;the chuch steeple it he holds ai» open umbrella in his; handC No boyjdoubtg that this is strictly true, but where is tho small-boy .wh9;::hagi.«rer''entrusted:vbis'iie*6k:{ib''.iaii'* umbrella parachute ? / Now. and then_a small boy borrows an umbrella, and in strict privacy tries Critic experiment of jumping from a fence with an umbrella in his hand, but the utmost urgency on the part of- bis comrades can never induce him to try the experiment from a secoud-story window. The small' boy is willing and' '* anxious that others should incur^greafc risks in almost any cause, but he is very ' alow to risk his own personal neck. There is not the least doubt thatthe - West Philadelphia smalKboy firmly: be-v lie Ted that his 'Sister^j^rKeiv, buoyed up with an umbrella and provided with tur<« key's wings, could: "Inffee^i, he;e^ now attributes her failure to accomplish the i feat and (ho fractilire of her- legi to her foolish omwßion : td: flap Still, with the caution characterisljc of his kind, he himself ;did nofc try, to iByV lie ■ isi evidenily an earnest student^bf scieric>i and only, those wlib are grosily ignqraot of the ch^ ra; r c t er j stieg pf ; the 8malI• boy will/ ; for a moment, class him with reckless mia r chipf-makers. ■.-, [■. ':^{^)-T::^,'''X]'':':--: '-^:' :;■■,■;.

1 The remarkable thing in connection , with the West Philadelphia small boy's experiment is the evidence which it aflords that at least one small-boy baa discovered (hat a sister can. be made use of in scientific experiment!.' The utter and complete uselessness of young sisters has always been recognised as an axiomatic truth by small bojs. Now and then a grown-up sister has redeeming traits, and is rea onabiy useful in helping her brother to escape the paternal rod. But a younger sister has always been (bought to be, beneath notice. If, however, sisters can be made available in scientific researches — if they can be used as experiments like that tried by the West Philadelphia small boy—they will suddenly acquire importance. It nill be conceded in time that a sister may bare some slight excuse for being, and that although abe can never be taught to fight, to enjoy raMrilling, or to engage in any other really manly occupation, she may, in the hands of an able C brother, be made useful op to a certain point. - N , --• Hardly any one except a small boy can appreciate the boldners displayed by the youthful West Philadelphian philosopher in utilising a sister. It is a point of honor among small.boys to have, no dealings with skters, and the small boy who remains at home to play with his sister is an object of great scorn and unanimous derision. Here, however, we have a small bey wtib, careless -of public juvenile opinion, undertook^ in his own home; and in the -> company of do one but his sister, an ira- , portanfc scientific experiment. His was the boldness of the true student of science. He was ready to accept, in his search after scientiOc truth, the assistance of even a very small sister. It is probable thafc if listers- should bo ' used to any great tfrlent as aids in invest- . N {gating the problems of juvenile scier cc,

I the wear,and tear^and general waste of niters' woufiTbe very large., The small • boy attaches so little value to a sister . that he cannot be expected to handle her with the utmost care. Still, sisters should be satified with the honor of these recognitions at the. hand* of small boys, and should bear breakagos and death with ' fortitude sufficient to compel even a small boy's admiration.—N. Y. Times.