The evening world. Newspaper, June 15, 1921, Page 21

it ' THE EVENING WOKLD, Upsetting Are Severe School Exams}' the Minds Of Child Students? ‘Amazing Record of Suicides During Past Few Weeks Prompts the Question a, {®Dr. ETTINGER, Superintendent of Schools, Says No—Puts Blame on Heredity, Home Conditions and Natural Morbidity of Disposition. Dr. WARREN, of the Save-a-Life League, Says Yes- Cites Record, and Finds Reason in Fear of Ex- aminations and Reprimands. “ By Fay Stevenson 1921, by the Pree Publishing Co, (‘The Ny RE child suicides in America becoming as pi wopynti many? During 1920, the Rey Harry York Kvewing World it as those in Ger- M. W ren, President and Genera! Director of the Save-a-Life League, announced that 707 children had com- mitted suicide, the boys averaging fifteen and the girls fourteen to sixteen, @ince the first of this year the news- papers have been full of child #ut- cides, especially girls and boys who are in their ‘teens and claim that they are tired of school, From May %4 tv May 28, just four days, five girls at- tempted suicide, two succeeding Flora Morina, fourteen, [freshman at Barrington High School in New- ark, killed herself immediately after having been scolded for irregular at- tendance. She shot herself with « short-barrelled rifle. © Because [ was disgusted with school.” she whispered @ her mother bent over hie Pearl Kluger, sixteen No, 145 41st Street, Brooklyn, attempted sui- cide by shooting her after she had fatled in her examination ut 5 Fearful that she would fall her junior high school examination. Helen Greenwald, thirteen kill herself by taking todine at he home, No. 233 West 113th Rad swallowed none of Wrned her mouth severely, Helen old her mothe * many @mes vhe afraid she weuld not bass her examinations. Virginia Sisson, seventeen, juin to her death from a window in tae Junior High Schoo! at Oceanside, L. 1 * Before her fr ave her she ds could § had climbed ts 1 herself out th tatherine 2415 First J studies and swallowed p. she repented, « was saved at the Three months of No. 3% snd thrown tions at Stella wa A number of boys bh. their lives because Heading the Dents {killed j | he tai ' fodine because hie could school and work too. ton, fifteen, of Rid, » committed F self with a necktie cause he hated last week Leopold Siebnc of No. 315 Wz i Park, N. J., hanged himself because of overstudy. And th ek Karl, fifteen, t hia home, No. 8828 4 Brooklyn, because the marks on his report card were poor. Walter was j a etudent at P. 8. No. 114 “What is the cause of all thesc cl suicides and schoo! troubles” | asked Dr. William L. Ettinge Superintend- ent of Schools. “Is the course too » rigid?” “There is no reason in tiv ,why a pupil should commit su sald Dr. Ettinger. “School = day is not nearly as hard as in the idays of the little red school house. We have grade advisers, plenty of re reation, gymnasium work, folk ing, only thirty and forty minute reci- tation periods for one subject _ child is ever punished for po ‘We have vocational schools, spe classes for mentally deficient those who are behind. No one is rushed, no one is pushed and there are nlways plenty of teachers who remain every afternoon to help the pupll who needs attention “But what do you think of so many .pnicides?” I asked. “Why do so many girls and boys say they are tired of life because of school and examina- tions?” Many child suicides come from neurotic parents, from home condi- tions and improper environment,” de- elured Dr. Ettinger, "I do not think the school or the examinations are back of it all. Some children are naturally morbid and moody and they Would take their lives if left alone on a farm. They naturally must biame something so they ery ‘school.’ ‘Then there is just one thing I think we need in the 18," con- cluded Dr. Ettinger, “and that i¢ a larger corps of visiting teachers, In reater New York we have but four- teen of these teachers. We need more. IY young women could go to these moody, whimsical children's homes and find out home conditions { tulk to the parents, it 1s possible { many children's lives would be tered. But Ido not think the ac- | school work {8 back of child su: School life was never as pleas- interesting as in the present A’ number of child rred because children bh manded or because they amental, In March of this Grichyich, five, of De- rt himself because his anded him for getung t wet. Last year a youngste> med Patridge, who hved hot himself in the mouth » heard a similar descnip- way his uncle killed him- there suicides hav r reprin wedding, Mundy, Street, South of cyanide of got father and mother sium because are separated. are just two things that a. so many ehild* suicides.” M. Warren of the gue told me xt his 108 West 77th Street. Ar examiuations and oversensitive- rt of the child, as far nanded or hearing dis- of Dr. Warren receives many would-be suicides at his home every week. tuiks to them, prays for them and tres to make them see that no matter what, life is worth while. He answers personally over 1,000 letters a year from all over the country and has per- sonally saved many lives by his kind words and convincing manner, “[ think the present system of ex- nations in the higher grades of ar schools, the high schools "Dr, Warren timid or ner- or tt nd colleges barbarous, “Of course child cannot stand the shock. lildren should be passed by the year’s work, not on one cruel exam:- nation, Until we change this system of terrifying children at examination time we n expect just such sad coses of suicide or attempted suicide as have come before us this spring. arents should be careful in the way they threaten to punish their children.” continued Dr. Warren, “Sometimes even the child who is not inclined to be neryous has brooded over its punishment or the humilia- tion before others until it has tried to minit suicide. Children should never t ded or whipped before other members of the family or chil- dren their own age. by. je tact and power to under- stand the child brain upon the part of the parent might save many a child hours of mental anguish and even the thought of self-destruction,” con- cluded Dr. Warren, “And as far as examinations are concerned, final affairs which terrify the ohild mind are brutal, for?” asked the little Jarr boy. “It’s a day for everybody to lay off land have a good time except your {poor aid dad. He has to go down- wn and work because he is the ‘puman chattel of an old hunks that ‘hasn't any more patriotism than a pecker.” ; (Now, papa, you shouldn't talk that lqfay to the children!” said Mrs. Jarr, fwho had come into the room just as jhe little boy had asked the question. fou know you don't have to work ‘gn the Fourth of July!" (ewrouldn't pop fight for his country, fmaw?” asked the little boy : } E was too young for the Civil \War,” said Mr. Jarr hastily, “and ‘shen the Inst war J volunteered but i had Base what is Fourth of July fhey wouldn't take me. with the ar “Well, there was @paniards, wasn't then Jerr, who had a splendid memory to le with. Erree am bul your papa couldn't ‘because he didn't belong to any Eiser company,” explained Mr. Jarr ‘would have gone and fought for (Mts country, but he wasn't needed in Mhat war cither.” ‘and would you haye died for your Ike George Washington and her Columbus did?” asked thy * “with pleasure.” said Mr. Jarr and now that will do, Willie, Papa The Jarr Family By Roy L. McCardell ‘asked Master" @ wants to read the paper before he 8 downtown.” “And would you have gone out with to the cemetery on Decoration and decorated your graves? Rangle went with his grand- father last Decoration Day to dec- orate graves,” said the boy. “I will have a grave to decorate if you don't stop asking me 80 many questions,” cried Mr. Jarr, “The child is only asking for in- formation.” said Mrs, Jare, "I think his questions show that he has a brilliant mind for his age. Mamma will answer your questions, Willie " u're a lady, mamma, You can't go to War and Kill people with guns, or be a burglar like men can," said Willie, with true masculine scorn, when it came to the discussion of ex- clusive male pri "m glad of Mrs, Jarr. ut being able to go to war when he grows up should not make my little boy speak rudely to his mamma,” “Well, tell me what Fourth of July is for, maw?" “It's a day dedicated to liberty by atriots, as I told you," said Mrv, s patriots the people who baseball ames on holida: asked the boy, “and why do cul it Fourth of July?" “Because—because,” interposed Mr. Jarr, Oh, bother, ask Thomas Edi- gon if your mother can't tell you.” they WEDNESDAY, JUN 3 ote Ree ee Beta, 15, 1921 SIT DOWN WHILE eee ace Sour CHANGE See THe LATEST 1 THE STYLE HAS CHANGED WHILE (WAS GETTING “YOUR, CHANGE What to Do Until The Doctor Comes By Charlotte C. West, M. D. Copyright, 1921, by the Press Publishing Co, (The New York Evening World. ( When Baby Has Colic. HE condition of colic—a spasm of the mucous canal—is one of the commonest in babyhood. The infant utters a shrill shriek as he is suddenly seized with an acute attack of intestinal pain, draws up his legs, kicks and struggles vehemently in ac- cordance with his age and strength. The character of the food ie un- doubtedly at the root of these attacks. Not always—intestinal worms may be Present and cause colic, Fermenta- tion of sugar giving rise to gaseous distention of the intestines is, how- ever, the usual cause. The stools are thin and greenish, smell very acid and inflame the skin, Infants that suffer from repeated attacks of colic should have the sugar withdrawn from their feedings, at least temporarily. If unsweetened milk is refused, saccharine tablets, 1 «rain to 1 pint of food, may be em- ployed, Should constipation exist, we are able to both sweeten the food and combat the constipation with a tea- spoonful of malt extract to each bot- tle of feeding. The stools may, on the other hand, indicate that the infant is not digest- ing the protein or fats, undigested curds being very prominent. The child is being overfed and fed irreg- ularly, In colicky, breast-fed infants the milk may not have assumed a normal character. The immediate treatment of colic ia plain—RELIEVE THE SPASM. This is done by injecting a warm enema of one pint of soapy water. Camo- mile tea is excellent for this purpose as it is extremely soothing--an ounce cr Govinan cainomile flowers are steeped in 1 to 2 pinta of boiling water for fifteen minutes, and slowly injected into the Infant's bowels at a temperature of 110 degrees Fahren- heit. Meanwhile poultices of flaxseed meal or the camomile flowers are prepared and applied to the abdomen as Soon as the offending matter is washed out of the bowels, Massage of the abdomen with warm sweet oll is algo very soothing. Hoffman's Anodyne is a good rem- edy to employ for the relief of pain in the first months of life. The dose at two months of age is one drop; from two to four months, 2 drops; from four to six months, 3 drops; to twelve months, 4 drops. Give in a spoonful of boiled, cooled water. Of course, the child's diet must be carefully gone over and changes made in accordance with the character of the stools, Maxims of a Modern Maid By Marguerite Mooers Marshall Copyright, 1921, by (he Prem Publishing Co., (The New York Brening World) A Woman Usually Plunges Into Her First Divorce With a Splash Which Makes Everybody Turn to Look; But the Trained Divorcee, Like the Trained Diver, Makes Hardly a Sound or a Ripple. O KISS and tell used to be the unforgivable sin for a man or woman; T but-Nowadays its quite customary for either one to kiss and write a novel. The beach cops these days are all worrying about the freedom of the knees; and the park cops with orders to suppress spooning are trying to end the freedom of the squeeze, Every young man who gets engaged on or around Class Day probably asks the wrong girl to marry him; wherein he differs scarcely at all from EVERY young man! A woman often loves her husband and her country in the same way: she sees much to change in each, but she resents even the hint of criticism from outsiders. The face with a permanent expression of patient pain may be an out- ward sign of inward grace, but it is a frightfully uncomfortable fireside companion. Just as the distinction between a weed and a flower is in the eye of the beholder, rather than in nature, so the difference between righteous and unrighteous love is less in the emotions themselves than in the comments of spectators. ‘Yhe most exhausting and nerve-shattering of all emotions is the en- thusiasm of some one else. When a man accepts a woman's first “no” as an answer, he may be the sort that takes a cut in salary or a slap in the face without protest--or he may be the wise individual who takes all the tips Fate hands him! Even a cursory examination of the revelations made by short skirts suggests that charity would cover a multitude of shins. Tasty Dishes for Summer Day { e BAKED TOMATOES. Cut off the top end of the tomato and scoop out the centre, Soak bread RHUBARB PIE. If the stalke are young and tender thoy will require no peeling; other- crumbs in water and press dry, or wise peel and cut into small pieces. use boiled rice. Mix this with the * about phseecavariere pues of F in ¢ to each pound of r rb, mix scoped out tomato pul ad! , scooped out tomato pulp and ad Sronarch ath tha clene tone some finely-minced onions and fine ne juice. Add @ little grated cut ham, Season with salt, cayenne orange or lemon peel for flavoring. pepper and sugar. Simmer over fire Pour this into the bottom crust. Roll to reduce the moisture, then fill the cut top ple crust and cut into half tomato cavity with this mixture, put inch strips, Wet edge of bottom some melted butter over the top, put te and put strips over pie in lallice into greased tins and bake in hot shape. Some cooks also put @ strip oven about twenty-five minutes. around the edge, Courtship and Marriage By Betty Vincent > Copyright, 1931, ¥. the Preas Publishing Co, (The New York Evening World ( “WATCHFUL WAITING” writes: Dear Miss Vincent—Three y ago | fell in love with a girl n door to me. | am now in my ju ior year in high school and she is attending grammar school. This of whi Lancelot ib in youth.” | am really in love with her, Miss Vincent. | nave tried to forget the girl but cannot do it. But this girl does not seem to care for me and j giddy kid sitting of her own age trading joki Now of course there are two sides to a story, so perhaps | do not understand girl society. What do you advise? Wait until the young lady gets through grammar school and begins to read Launcelot and Elaine. Mean- while get a few good stories with lots of fun in them and fire them at her, “BABE RUTH" write: Dear Miss Vincent—I! am going about with a young man whom rly. We intended to get ber, but the gions, His people oppose the mar- riage, so what do you advise? Where parents object on either side and you are under twenty-five ft seems to me it ts best to respect their winhes. If you are over twen- ty-five and broad minded you ought to be able to Work out your solution, “dUST A READER” writes: Dear Miss Vincent: Recently some one asked you if there were any real girls who did not have the dancing craze. I, for on an old-fashioned girl and have to stay at home because | can- not dance. | don't care. The old saying that “all things come to him who waits" ought to apply to me, don't you think? There must be some men who feel the way | do about dancing. You are right. While there is no harm in dancing (properly), if you do not care for it depend upon it there are many men who do not d-a-w-n-c-e. “M. L. G.” writes: Dear Vincent—1 have been corresponding with a young man who moved away from here. We are good friends and ha wishes to come to see us. Is this proper? It you are Hving at home with your parents or guardian. Swimming Corrects Figure; | Builds Up Thin Woman, { Reduces Stout One Gives Symmetry Aids Poise and Carriage Doris Doscher, the noted Health and Figure Improvement EepePs, has been specially engaged by The Evening World to write for tte women readers. She will answer questions relating to her articles, Misa Doscher, adjudged by erperts to have a perfect figure, posed for the figure on the new quarter and for many noted pieces of sculp ture, She is also a lecturer for the Board of Education on subjects re- lating to exercise and health. By Doris Doscher. Coprnigat, 1921, by the Prem Publishing Co., (The New York Evening World.) VERY woman who wants to be beautiful figure. I want to see the American woman something besides a clothes- I want my women readers to have bodies beautiful in themselves; not constrained to’ the lines of the fashionable figure by means of cofseta, horse, pads or other artificial alds. stout to reduce, strengthening the over-thin figures, Study tne pictures of the champion swimmers, snapped in their one-piece suits which show every line and curve of the figure, and note how evenly and perfectly devel- oped is their phystoal structure. ‘They swim because they love the sport and can win success in ft, but, indirectly, the result of their indulgence is in- creased health and beauty. For women, swimming is particular- ly helpful in the development it gives the chest. The supple, rouvded curves of the upper part of the body are a distinctive part of feminine beauty. ‘The woman whose chest is flat or hol- low, whose shoulders slouch, canno: be called truly beautiful, no matter how lovely her face. In modern eve- ning dress, the chest, shoulders and back are so completely exposed that defects in them are particul irly notice- able I first gave you directions for swim ming the crawl or dog paddle stro! because, for beginners, it is simplest But the breast stroke, when you can master It, is the one of all others which tends most to beautify the fg- ure. The breast stroke not only increases the chest expansion—an important test for the athlete—but it develops the breast and gives to man or woman those beautiful lines of symmetry so seldom seen in modern times, but found in every Greck or Roman statue. We know that awimming was one of the favorite exercises of the ancients; that the Romana, especially, often centred their whole life about their beautiful marole baths and swimming pi It is not : for all of us to swim all around, but in a seaboard city lik New York swimming ja a summer Sport accessible to most. 1 hope my women readers will swim as much as possible this summer, and I want you to feel that you wil beautify your figure in proportion to your mastery of the breast stroke This is how you do it: First, let us consider the method of breathing, for in taking any new stroke {t is eswential to know just when to breathe. Inhale through the mouth with head slightly raised out of water, and exhale through the nose when the face is submerged. ‘The head must not be held too high out of water If the body is to move through It quickly. In Illustration I the face ix partly hidden by the hands, to show how the head must be kept down In the next three illustrations the different stages of the breast stroke are pictured, In Iilustration I. tt arms ure horizontal; in Mlustrat n III, they are brought from horizontal position to the breast, with thumbs touching the fingers, which are held together, the palms down, HKemem- ber to keep the head low, In Mius- tration IV. the hands are brought back to the first position he legs assume exactly the same position taken by a frog in swim- ming. With the feet touching, draw toward the body as far as pos- , keeping the bent knees us wide apart as possible When the hands are at the breast the feet come ax close aw they ean to the body. When the arms shoot for- ward the feet kick straight back, You must always keep As I have told you, and as I have proved iny my own case, even structural defects in the figure, sugh as tain kinds of spinal malformation, can be co by suitable exercises faithfully practised. easier to change mere flesh, to take off surplus pounds of fat or to fill out unsightly hollows and angles! those of you whom I can help to reduce or build up to their proper weight not only will be filled with increased health and vigor but will see a new vision of themselves in the full-length mirror, Y Swimming, as I explained to you the other day, is perhaps the best of body-®uilding sports, muscles and increasing th thts of the anaemic and undernourished, it corrects fie she body © to Body Linés, well and beautiful must possess @ ed How much nd It helps the and, by improving the circulation. parallel with the water surface, Sud near it, so that the body will not hav. 4 tendency to drag in the water. « If you swim this stroke properly you will notice how the unused mus- cles of the back and the entire tora, as well as of the limbs, are brough! into play. Such musoular dell will strengthen and build up your entir. system, At first, you may find the breas' stroke fatiguing. If you do, back to the crawl stroke for a pes instead of coming out of the and getting chilled, It is a gvod pl todearn from the start to change fron: one stroke to another, as a rest, (To-Morrow Miss Doscher will write about obesity reduction.) [WHAT ou9| Know :* G nag. AVZ1. by Pree P QUESTIONS. 1, Which State ranks |: lation? 2. How many Sti have thi names spelled with four lettere? 3. How many Stat have the: names spelled with five letters? 4. What is the State flower of Ohio? 5. Of what continent is the gnu a native? . 6. What is the fleece of the Angora goat called? i @ 7. Where is the Gold Coast? - 8 In what country are the Gram pian Hills? it in pepu- are 9. What European capital ci ie situated on two adjacent islande?, 10. What two brothers, born ih Poland, won fame as singers in grend opera—one as a tenor, the other as a basso? ANSWERS. Nevada, 2. Three, 8 Three. 4. Scarlet arnation, 5. Africa. 6 Mohair, 7. West Aftica. 8. Seot- 9% Copenhagen. 10. Jean and Reszk > — RANDOM FACTS : } VARIBTY of sunflower has been developed that grows only three fee tall and produces white dios. soms that yield more seeds tham wny other kind of the same plant Experiments are being cone’ ducted in British Guiana with he use for motor fuel of alcoho} lerived from sugar cane, mill- ns of gallons of which coul@ produced annually, 3 Wireless station at Car- narvon, Wales, has succeeded im sending messages clearly to Sydney, Australia, a distance 12,000 miles, A naturalist in Venezuela had way to obtain Y me species of heron whieh produces them without injury to the birds. el meena a 0“ ie Sa ip a AP OOS - a