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86
The Science of Dress.
[CHAP. VI.

infant for it always to be in arms, and people are far too afraid to let babies lie about and exercise their limbs freely by stretching them in all directions. They will do this if left to themselves, but they cannot do it when cramped by the nurse's body and arms, or even by the walls of the cradle. The children of a learned professor, a friend of mine, when infants, were accustomed to lie all day on rugs on the floor, or on the grass, and as soon as they could crawl, they were put to sleep also on mattresses on the floor, which effectually prevented any danger of their falling out of bed. Care was taken that these children should be out of harm's way; but they were always allowed perfect freedom of movement, and not constantly watched and restrained, The result has been all that could possibly be desired; they have grown up perfectly developed in every limb, strong both in body and mind, and completely devoid of fear. There is such a thing as watching and guarding children too closely, and so making them from the first too dependent on others. It must not be forgotten that education, in the true sense of the word, begins from the very first moment of life.

The baby moving its limbs, and rolling about on the floor or grass, which it can do with perfect freedom in the short clothes I advocate, but not in the long ones generally worn, gains power in its muscles, and will soon begin to tumble about and crawl. If external sources of danger are removed, it cannot easily hurt itself, and it will crawl until the bones are firm enough to bear the weight of