Lessons in purchasing would result from a toy grocery store
with scales. Dolls with their ready-made wardrobes do not hold
the same interest as the same doll with pieces of material, pat-
terns and sewing outfit would. The latter afifords a never-failing
source of pleasure and a tax on the ingenuity of the little mother.
And so as the gift season is again with us may the spirit of
the gift be in us that each gift we give may hold the significance
of the Herald angels' song "Glory to God in the Highest, and on
earth peace, good will toward men."
Perfect Guidance of Children.
TRUTH-TELLING AND THE PROBLEM OF CHILDREN'S LIES.
By Lucy Wright Snow.
There is no parental virtue so completely reflected in a child
as truth-telling. Therefore, the problem of proper guidance of
the child in this virtue is principally that of furnishing him with
truth-loving, truth-telling parents.
Susan Chenery in her helpful book, As the Twig is Bent,
holds strongly to the belief that a mother should never tell even
the whitest lie to her child.
If mothers will listen carefully they might find themselves
saying something like this :
"Oh, here comes Mrs. So and So, and how I look! Daugh-
ter, you answer the door and tell her mother is not at home."
What can she expect of her daughter in the way of truth-telling?
'Twas Emilie Poulsson who said, "Truth is not a child's
virtue, it is the supreme attainment of maturity." Parents who
have learned through lorg years of experience, the value of
truth, too often expect their little one to tell truth before he has
learned how ; many a child on being chastened for lying, has
been heard to remark : "Well, why doesn't someone tell me how
to tell the truth, so I can tell it?"
He should be taught what truth is by* a gradual process.
First, there must be a healthy home condition. If the family
life is open and honest it will not likely occur to the child that
there is any necessity for lying. Before he is old enough to learn
truth, he must absorb it by being surrounded by wholesome
conditions. Under such conditions, boys and girls will he whole-
some as a matter of course. We have an excellent definition
by Dean Farrar ; he says :
"If you would be perfectly honest, never pretend to be doing
what you are not doing; never pretend to have done what you
have not done ; never be surprised into a concealment or startled
into a falsehood ; such manslaughter on truth always ends in
murder."
But, besides giving the child a truthful environment, there
has to be definite instruction in truth-telling. Begin by telling
him simple, scriptural stories. Give many illustrations from
your own experiences. There is nothing so interesting to a child
as stories of when mother or father was a child. In telling these
stories, do not always hold yourself up as a model of perfec-
PERFECT GUIDANCE OF CHILDREN. 703
ticn, lest the stories lose their "twinkle' 'and become monotonous,
or the child learns to brag. Let the joke come on yourself occas-
sionally, it will introduce a sense of humor and show that you are
not afraid of criticism. But never tell a story that shades the
truth. A very efifective way of correcting a child or teaching a
point is to appeal to his humor. When a child is corrected jok-
ingly, if he sees the joke, quite likely in recalling it, he will co-
relate the joke with the correction and profit by it. Often, a child
can be appealed to by the ridiculous better than by the serious
side of things. For example : The story of the boy who stole
the plums from school and eventually when on the scafifold con-
victed of divers crimes, bit off the ear of his aunt for not hav-
ing corrected him for his first offense, that of stealing the plums.
The very ridiculousness of biting off an ear, makes the story one
never to be forgotten.
However, care should be exercised in telling of your own
imp,erfections, lest the child take license and think that he may
do wrong because mother did. It has been wisely said : "Al-
ways present the right to a child, since he is not able as yet to
find the underlying thought of a moral storv unless it is clearly
defined."
Many mothers think it is necessary to evade truth, or lie
to their children concerning such subjects as Santa Claus or
The Story of Life — not so ; it requires but to know your child
and your subject well, to be able to tell truth concerning any
subject. It does not follow that one should tell the little child
everything of every subject; be governed by age and conditions.
A child's questions are a guide to when and what to tell, and
if the clever mother always assumes the "listening attitude" she
will kriow by instinct how to tell just enough and not too much.
Always answer a child's questions in a simple, truthful way, not
necessarially entering into lengthy detail.
LIES OF IMAGINATION.
These are not serious lies, and need not be corrected se-
verely, though the mother must be alert to distinguish between
an imaginative lie and a lie to deceive. Allow the child to tell all
the make-believe stories he wants to, but it is very important that
he be taught to distinguish them as make-believe stories. If he
forgets to do this, the mother should help him every time to
remember — "What fine make-believe stories you can tell, can't
you ?" Encoura,ge him to tell a story over several times insisting
on accuracy of statement.
LIES OF FEAR.
Spontaneous lies of fear are usually told from fear of pun-
ishment after doing wrong. To correct these, do not ask search-
704 RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE.
ing questions as: "Did you take your brother's nickel?" Rather
work out the detail in your own mind and lead him to repentance,
e. g. "I'm sorry you took your brother's nickel — come and tell
mother all about it, perhaps she can help you out of your
trouble."
SELFISH LYING.
When a child actually lies to gain some end, we have a ser-
ious condition which should nev,er be allowed to pass by un-
corrected.
After such a lie, the mother should take the guilty one into
a room alone and have a good serious talk with him. Tell
him how she trusts him and how no one will be able to trust him
if he continues to lie. Parents should not be discouraged but firm
in their determination to exterminate the lie. The mother's main
duty in life, at this particular time, is to see that this evil is nipped
in the bud. If necesary, punish. If she is alert to detect every
lie and correct it at the right time, she may consider that she has
scored a great success in his proper guidance.
One of the greatest mediums by which a child may be guided,
properly, in all subjects, is the medium of prayer, and especially
in the problems of Fear and Falsehood. Teach him to talk to
God ; what blessings are, and the source from whom they come ;
to be thankful for his blessings ; then when he has conceived the
idea of gratitude to God, teach him to ask God to help him in
whatsoever he may need assistance. Tell him many times the
story of the Prophet Daniel — how he learned to pray at his
mother's knee, and how Godi answered his prayer of faith by
protecting him from the mouths of the hungry lions. Teach him
that he can learn how to tell truth, and that he can surmount all
hi'^ difficulties through prayer in faith, and effort. Let the father,
in leading the family prayer, pray that the children may learn
to be strong, obedient and truthful or whatever his discretion may
lead him to ask God for.
In conclusion, let us call to mind the words : "To thine own
self be true ; he loves truth best who to himself is true."
Books to read on the subject:
Virginibus Puerisque, by Robert Louis Stevenson, published
by Chas. Scribner's Sons, New York ; The Mother Artist, by Jane
Dearborn Mills, published by Palmer Co., Boston; Book of
Daniel; Psalms 15 :12.
Current Topics.
By James H. Anderson.
Shoes went higher in October, not in dimensions but in price,
the increase being 15% and 20% above previous figures.
Beets raised for sugar factores go up 50 cents per ton to the
grower next season ; and the sugar goes up to the consumer.
The baseball season in the United States closed with the
Boston team as world champions, winning over Brooklyn.
Mexican matters do not improve, either in the disturbances
in Mexico or in the antagonism felt there toward the United
States.
Wheat and vegetables are up in price, and still goin,g up.
The staff of life will be a great necessity ere long, even in these
United States.
The State Fair this year had rainy weather five days out of
seven, so that there is serious thought of holding the fair a week
earlier in the season hereafter.
Air raids to the number of 500 a day in the European war
show the remarkable extent to which "fighting in the clouds" has
been developed in the past two years.
Deep Creek region, in western Utah, is to have a railroad,
construction work already having been commenced southward
from Wendover, on the Western Pacific railway.
France has annexed a square mile of territory in China, ad-
joining the French possession there. The new acquisition was
French-owned and occupied, so there is no worry over it.
Verdun's great battle was suddenly resumed in October, the
French regaining considerable ground previously lost. Thus the
pendulum of war swings to and fro there, with no decisive result.
Workers is a term aptly applied to the girl students at the
University of Utah, where, out of 720 young ladies in attendance,
360 are earning their living in whole or in part, while attending
school.
706 RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE.
The Danish West Indies was visited by a fierce hurricane
in October, with a damage of $2,000,000 in property, and two-
thirds of the people in need of food and half of these deprived
of shelter.
A CORDIAL GREETING was givcn the Utah troops who returned
from the Mexican border at the end of October ; and the troopers
seemed as pleased to be back home as the people were glad to
have them here.
A German squadron of torpedo-boat destroyers made a
daring- raid into the English Channel, during the last week in
October, and engaged in battle with the British war vessels,
losses being about even.
The interurban railways centering at Salt Lake City an-
nounce an open passenger rate of 2 cents per mile, and a mileage-
book rate of 1 cent per mile, on and after December 1. This is
the cheapest railway traffic yet known in Utah.
The Agricultural department at Washington advocated a
more liberal use of potatoes mixed with wheat flour in making
bread, and immediately the price of potatoes went up to a figure
unheard of before in the history of the country.
At Bayonne, New Jersey, a crowd of strikers attacked the
fire department and demolished a fire engine, during the progress
of a fire. To protect the firemen, the police had to shoot into the
crowd, several persons being hurt, and one woman killed.
At Detroit, Michigan, in October, a street car full of pas-
sengers was run into by a switching train, at a crossing, with the
result that fourteen passengers were killed and twenty-five hurt.
Lack of care by the crews on both sides caused the disaster.
An exchange of persons over 45 years of age who have been
interned in Germany and Great Britain has been arranged be-
tween those two powers. When the transfer is made, these
people may not be better fed, but they will feel more at home
The Chiropractors want the Lcigislature to recognize them
as such by state law. Whether right or wrong, heretofore the
regular medical fraternity has opposed any new cult in the healing-
art, so a contest may be looked for at the next legislative session.
Women as speakers in political campaigns have demonstrated
in Utah that they are quite as vigorous and intellectual as the
CURRENT TOPICS. 707
men, in discussing political questions, and they indulge in much
less personal abuse than some of the masculine gender who make
public speeches.
The Saltair line from Salt Lake City is to be electrified
and extended five miles to the Tooele county boundary. Elec-
tricity is proving to be cheaper than steam power in actual use,
as well as enabling a more conveni-ent service to be given on
railways.
Submarine activity by which one German submarine sank
six vessels ofif the American coast in October has convinced the
thinking men of America that the United States is not so isolated
after all, in case of a war between this "nation and great European
powers.
The Austrian premier, Count Karl Streugkh, has been as-
sassinated by a newspaper editor, Friedrich Alder, who disa'^^reei
v/ith Austria's war policy. It will not be strange if further
assassinations, or attempts thereat, occur in Europe's warring
nations.
The British and French gains against Germany on the
western war front continue slowly, the expenditure in life and
munitions being stupendous. From present indications, the war
may not be more than half through, with no certainty as to the
ultimate result.
The Japanese question, so far as the right of the "little
brown men" to own land in the United States is concerne^l, is to
be settled bv the United States Supreme Court, on a suit brought
in California to confiscate land heretofore purchased and now
held by a Japanese resident there.
Greece has accepted the terms of the entente allies to let the
latter have free reign there against the Teutonic allies. This action
by the Greek government has prevented, at least for the present,
the establishment of a republic in Greece, under the protecting
patronage of Great Britain and France.
The strike of milk-producers in New. York finallv was
brou,ght to an end by official action compelling the producers and
dealers to get together on a basis arranged for them. Tt seems
necessary in a case of this kind for an outside controlling factor
to enforce settlement for the safetv of the public, because the
Parties at issue each develop a selfishness that precludes settlepient
by either compromise or arbitration.
Christmas Menus
By Gertrude McCheyne.
RECIPES.
Croutons.
Butter lightly on each side slices of bread cut one-third Inch thick.
Cut into dice and brown in oven.
Cheese Canapes.
i„ut slices of bread into rings; butter lightly ,on each side; brown
in oven; remove and sprinkle with grated cheese; allow to melt in
warming oven.
Beet Salad.
Cut beets finely; mix with hard boiled eggs and put through the
chopper; sprinkle with grated cheese.
Fruit Cocktails.
(1) Cut pineapple, orange and grapes into small pieces; pour over
the fruit a syrup made from the juice of pineapple and orange, to
which add enough lemon juice to give an acid flavor. Sprinkle lightly
with paprika.
(2) Canned pears cut in dice, black grapes or cherries and small
pieces of crystallized ginger.
DRESSINGS
Turkey.
(1) 4 c. bread crumbs; % c. suet, chopped finely; 1 tsp. salt; 1
tabsp. parsley, cut finely; 1 tbsp. grated lemon peel; 1 egg.
(2) 2 c. soft bread crumbs; % c. melted butter; ^4 tsp. salt; % tsp.
pepper; 1 tsp. sage; 1 egg.
Duck and Goose.
Boil two medium-sized onions until tender; mash and add two-
thirds cup bread crumb. Season with sage, pepper and salt.
Lemon Pie (Southern Recipe).
1 c. sugar; 1 c. water; 1 tsp. butter; boil together and allow to
cool. 2 egg yolks, beat well. Add 2 tbsp. flour and grated rind of ,one
lemon. Stir liquid into egg mixture. Make meringue of egg whites.
Carrot Pudding.
1 c. bread crumbs; 1 c. carrots; 1 c. raisins or dates; 1 c. suet;
54 c. molasses; 14 c. brown sugar, 2 c. flour; 1 c. milk; 1 tsp. cinnamon;
% tsp. allspice; ^^ tsp. salt; 2 tsp. baking powder; 1 c. lemon-citron;
2 eggs. Steam 2 hours.
English Plum Pudding.
i/a lb. bread crumbs, stale; 1 c. scalded milk;. Soak. ^ lb. sugar;
4 eggs; Yz lb. raisins; % lb. currants, 2 oz. candied peels. Add to
milk. 2 oz. creamed suet; 14 grated nutmeg; 1 tsp. allspice; 1^ tsp.
salt; 4 egg whites, beat stiff. Add to mixture. Steam 8 hours.
SAUCES FOR PUDDINGS.
Drawn Butter Sauce.
^ c. butter; 1 tbsp. flour. Melt together. Add J^ c. water; let
simmer; 1 tbsp. sugar; flavor as desired just before removing from
heat.
Orange Sauce.
1 tsbp, butter; 1 tbsp. flour. Cook together. Add 1 c. water and
z. tbsp. sugar; 1 tsp. grated rind of orange; 1 tbsp. orange juice.
Genealogical Lesson Books.
The book of reference which was consulted in the preparation
of these lessons is : S. Barring-Gould's Story of Family Names,
which can be purchased, after Christmas, at the Deseret Sunday
School Union Book Store, or the Deseret News Book Store, for
$3.50. We aim to make our lessons sufficiently complete to give
necessary information where wards are unable to purchase the
book. A new edition is printing in England. Our lessons
have not been taken altogether from this book, for we
have consulted English history, Charlotte Young's Christian
Names, and Bardsley's English Surnames; but Barring-Gould's
book is sufficient to furnish all material needed in preparing the
lessons, if more information is wished than the lessons them-
selves supply.
Suggestive List of Books for the Family
Library.
1. "Story of Mother Goose," v. age 4-6.
2. "Moni, the Goat Boy," 6-8. ,
3 "The Bird's Christmas Carol."
4. "Page Story Book," 8-10.
5. "Prince and Pauper." 10-12.
6. "Little Women." 10-12.
7. "Rebecca of Sunnybrook Farm." 10-12.
8. "Story of My Life," Keller; 10-12.
9. "Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come." 12-14.
10. "Old Fashioned Girl," 12-14.
11. "The Crisis," 12-16.
12. "Ben Hur." 14-16.
13. "Cities of the Sun," Elizabeth C. Porter ; 16-20.
14. "Life Among The Indians," Jacob Hamblin, R. D.
15. "My First Mission." Cannon.
16. "Lydia Knights' History," Homespun.
17. "Thrilling Experiences," Kimball.
18. "Helpful Visions," Whitney.
19. "Leaves from My Jounral." Woodruff .
20. "Scraps of Biography."
EDITORIAL
Entered as second-class matter at the Post Office, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Motto — Charity Never Faileth.
THE GENERAL BOARD
Mrs. Eumeline B. Wells President
Mrs. Clarissa S. Williami First Counselor
Mrs. Julina L. Smith Second Counselor
Mrs. Amy Brown Lyman General Secretary
Mrs. Susa Young Gates Corresponding Secretary
Mrs. Emma A. Empey Treasurer
Mrs. Sarah Jenne Cannon Mrs. Carrie S. Thomas Miss Edna May Davis
Dr. Romania B. Penrose Mrs. Priscilla P. Jennings Miss Sarah McLelland
Mrs. Emily S. Richards Mrs. Elizabeth S. Wilcox Mrs. Elizabeth C. Crismon
Mrs. Julia M. P. Farnsworth Mrs. Rebecca Niebaur Nibley Mrs. Janette A. Hyde
Mrs. Phebe Y. Beatie Mrs. Elizabeth C. McCune Miss Sarah Eddington
Mrs. Ida S. Dusenberry
Mrs. Lizzie Thomas Edward, Music Director
RELIEF SOCIETY MAGAZINE
Editor SusA Young Gates
Business Manager Janette A. Hyde
Assistant Manager Amy Brown Lyman
Room 29, Bishop's Building, Salt Lake City, Utah.
Vol. III. DECEMBER, 1916. No. 12.
PEACE ON EARTH.
Without, the storm blows noisily around my
Storm Without home, the windows rattle, fierce cries the
Peace Within, wind, and snow piles up over the doorstep.
The streets echo with wild storm-whistling,
and even the street-car bell bangs more noisily as the car pushes
its difficult way through the muffling snow. Cold gusts pierce
the casement, and under the sill, flakes of snow are blown to pile
up in silent Lilliputian mounds inside the loose door fittings.
Before the fire I sit, my feet warmed by the red blaze, my arms
encircled with the fire's glow. Sometimes I lift my gaze from
the Scriptures lying on my knee, and then both eyes and ears
attest that there is storm and blustering cold without. Wrapping
mv happy thoughts about me, I rest within my shelter, for I have
lived my day of stress and cold, have breasted wind and snow,
hnve earned the sheltering peace which now, through mine own
choice, and by God's will, I here enjoy. Below, storms ; whistle,
winds, for I have built a sheltering wall of peace in which to rest
and sleep. This is peace, the peace of solitude and night.
Outside, men are rUshing, women pushing.
Confusion children running to and fro, while noise and
Reigns confusion crowd the highways and byways
Supreme. of life. Bells jingle out of tune, machines
shriek as they fly — buzzing through the air,
EDITORIAL. 711
shrill steam-exhaust calls to shriller auto-siren. Down the still
country lane honks whizzing motor-cycles ; clashing and clamor-
ing interurban cars rip the country silences, and all the dells are
fdled with filming crowds. Boats fly, cars flash, and air-planes
loop heaven's blue. Into my canyon I go, so far away and above
men's haunts that still nature is there to wrap my soul in peace.
I walk alone amid the columbines, while only clouds and butter-
flies have motion in the silence. Ah, this is peace. The peace
of isolation. I know that men are hurrying and women strug-
gling down there — I, too, have toiled and rushed. Now I close
the canyon door on all the world's confusion, and sit down on the
mountain side with peace for my companion.
Armies are marching, women are crying,
God Will Give little orp^haned children are hungry just for
Us Peace. bread. The world is circled with a bleeding-
corslet, and men are killed as engines of de-
struction multiply. Miles and miles of living hillocks kill and
maim the human insects crawling there. Hospitals vomit out
great daily crowds of useless living wrecks, while yawning graves
hold multitudes of nameless men. Worse — ten thousand times
worse — babies are hourly born into spiritual blindness ; women
diseased by untaught, unchaste husbands and fathers; youths and
niaid.ens growing up into the dim, shadowy recesses of outworn
creeds, spirits cramped, bodies warped and hearts passion-stifled
for lack of the pure teachings of Christ. Yet, into the solitude
of quiet Christmas thoughts I steal away and isolate my soul on
the mountain-top of peace, while the year goes jangling down the
cloisters of the yesterdays. I long, I yearn, I pray for peace-
peace — when there is so little peace. Yet know I that God is in
His world, and if my pulsing hands have urged their daily dole,
if my toil has clasped the yesterdays with unselfish, loving service
He will grant me peace — at times — that I may rest and praiseHis
name. Peace — because I love my fellow men — because it is
God's world, and He will order all things well — His children are
His own and very dear to Him — He knows — He sees — the con-
flicts of great nations and the tears of little babies are alike His
care— and I — well, I gladly serve. And thus comes peace to me
while storm and noise and war prevail o'er all the earth — yet I
have peace at times. Just now the Christmas midnight strikes
the hour and I hear the" church bells ringing while the angels sing
the old, old song first heard on Jewry's hills — "Peace on earth,
to men of good will !"
Preview of Guide Work for 1916-17.
THE BIBLE.
The Prophet Nephi tells us that he found it difficult to make
the younger generation, who had grown up in the Land of Prom-
ise, .understand the language of the Plates of Brass, which we
now call the Old Testament, because they had not seen and lived
am,ong the people for whom these writings w.ere intended, and
\v.ere not therefore familiar with the habits of thought and cus-
toms of life of those people. If, then, Nephi found difficulty,
after a single generation, in making the Scriptures clear to those
who had not been reared in Palestine, what shall we say of our-
selves, who are many (generations removed from that land and
those habits and customs described in the Bible?
Now, the Relief Society last year studied the principal
women of the Hebrew Scriptures. Doubtless, although an ef-
fort was made to interpret these characters in terms of modern
life, the study proved more or less hard to grasp, principally be-
cause the ways of eastern peoples in those days were so different
from ours. And so it has been decided this coming year to study
the peoples among whom these women lived and worked.
This, study ought to be both interesting and enlightening.
It will cover the geography of the places where the women lived
who were discussed last year, the kind of people who lived
there at the time, the things they did, their habits of thought,
their dress, their customs in society and government, and what-
ever else will throw light upon the characters themselves whom
we know something about already. But all this will be done in a
v;ay that will be interesting and readable, not in the manner of
the dry-as-dust historian. And in connection with this study,
there will be given readings from the Bible, covering the par-