In Which Miss Post Compares Children to Dogs and Calls Them "It"

"Etiquette" by Emily Post copyright 1937 p.764

Chief Virtue: Obedience

     No young human being, any more than a young dog, has the least claim to attractiveness unless it is trained to manners and obedience. The child that whines, interrupts, fusses, fidgets, and does nothing that it is told to do, has not the least power of attraction for anyone, even though it may have the features of an angel and be dressed like a picture. Another that may have no claim to beauty whatever, but that is sweet and nicely behaved, exerts charm over everyone.

     When possible, a child should be taken away the instant it becomes disobedient. It soon learns that it cannot "stay with mother" unless it is well-behaved. This means that it learns self control in babyhood. Not only must children obey, but they must never be allowed to "show off" or become pert, or to contradict or to answer back; and after having been told "no," they must never be allowed by persistent nagging to win "yes."

     A child that loses its temper, that teases, that is petulant and disobedient, and a nuisance to everybody, is merely a victim, poor little thing, of incompetent or negligent parents. Moreover, that same child when grown will be the first to resent and blame the mother's mistaken "spoiling" and lack of good sense.