4 THE ACORN sessed those various traits of character. George Washington was the ideal or the American people, and no loyal son of the United States ever hears his name mentioned without feeling proud of the Father of our country. His purity of life, his unselfishness, his punctuality, his bravery, his generosity, his love of his fellow man, his retiring disposition and his prayerful devotion are an inspiration to all. How different the life of Napoleon Bonaparte! Living himself by the downfall of others; ambitious for himself, lacking the finer sense of life; other people were to him instruments to his own ends, yet his bravery and his wonderful genius in marshalling his forces for war created among his followers a devotion that almost made him ideal to them. How many of the younger teachers here, who have heard of the exploits of such men as Jesse James, have not admired him for his wonderful courage, and have not been influenced by that admiration to be charitable towards his deeds of violence and murder? The sweet home life of William McKinley, his devotion to his aged mother and faithful wife, have idealized him in the eyes of hundreds of the American people. We as a people look upon Joseph Smith ideally in many respects. His love for the human family, devotion to the cause of right, fearlessness in the face of danger, his magnanimity toward his unfaithful brethren, humility in the work of the Lord, unhesitatingly giving his life for his fellow men, and "sacrificing all that he possessed for the good of others, inspire us with a belief in the divinity of his mission, and our knowledge of his progress on the other side makes him an ideal man to us. The danger in life in having ideals is in not being able to accept all that is really good in our ideal and leaving the bad alone. THE CHILD IS A BORN IMITATOR. From infancy he does what he sees others do. He imitates the sounds that he hears around him, learns to make those sounds himself. He catches the words of his parents in conversation and persistently tries to repeat them; in this way he learns to talk. He observes the habits of those around him and knowing no others, emulates their example?). If the father and mother are prayerful, he learns to pray; if father is profane, he learns to swear; if mother is cross and petulant, he learns to scold; if the family are untidy in their habits, and unclean in their persons, he partakes of that condition; if father smokes a pipe, he finds something that looks like a pipe and tries to smoke; if the beverage at the table is anything else than water, he will not be satisfied with water for himself, and so we might go on indefinitely. THE CHILD'S IDEAL AT HOME. No matter how insignificant baby's father and mother may be in the eyes of other people, if they are kind to him, they are his ideals. He lives in a world by himself, knowing nothing if the infinite outside his home. His toys are the most beautiful things to him. He looks to his mother and father while in infancy, as the embodyment of all that he desires to be. No matter how far they may come short according to the measurements of those outside the home to the little one THE ACORN 5 they are perfection in every detail, and he desires to be like them. How careful therefore should father and mother be at home. They can keep baby in ignorance of their shortcomings, but some day he will compare them with others and he will discover wherein they fall short. HOW TEACHERS BECOME IDEALIZED. Many chidren having homes that are not tidy and clean, parents who are not always cheerful and kind, go to school to find an ideal in the teacher. If teachers are wise they will always be cheerful in the presence of their children; they will cultivate the love of those children not only by manifesting an interest in their welfare in the school room, but by calling them by name and speaking kindly to them on the street or on the play ground. A child naturally has a fear of a strange teacher, but if the teacher is mild In temperament and sweet in disposition, that childish fear is overcome and in its place grows love and confidence. If the teacher is exemplary in his habits, always tidy in appearance, and manifesting a generous spirit towards others, childish confidence is increased. Teachers should not have favorites; their hearts should be so warm that they can love all the little ones placed in their care. Teachers should be imbued with the spirit of forgiveness and generosity, not forgetting the thoughtlessness and disobedience of their children, but allowing the child to think it is overlooked. If the child is sick and unable to attend school, a visit from the teacher will never be forgotten by the little one, and the time taken could never have been better spent. 3e absolutely truthful; never at any time deceive the children. Show by your every act that you love the little ones, and they will reciprocate that love. A. big heart is preferable to a big head. The world will never be won by warmed-over piety. IMPRESS THE CHILD WITH YOUR KNOWLEDGE. Always be prepared; never go into a class without having mastered the lesson you expect the child to learn. They are thinking and looking for an opportunity to show you that they know something you are not acquainted with. If they do not succeed, you will always be to them, the smartest teacher in the world. If you come into the class, however, not prepared, some bright child will find your weak point, and after that will say in his heart, "I know just as much as my teacher," and his respect for your knowledge has disappeared. APPEAL TO CHILD'S EMOTIONAL NATURE. Children are always fond of stories, and their emotions can be touched by telling them experiences in real life. Impress them with the opportunities they enjoy, and contrast their surroundings with those of less fortunate children in the world. Tell them how much father and mother have sacrificed for them, the sympathy and kindness of Our Heavenly Father. Narrate little incidents containing pathetic experiences of others; teach them to have hearts, and that without love and charity, their lives are a failure. Our children are naturally sympathetic and kind. They can be impressed with the knowledge that by kindness they can make others love them. Not only kindness to their com-