More cake

Some things have always been. Grandparents giving your children too many sugary treats? It was being complained about back in Jane Austin’s time. And daughters (or daughters-in-law) who haven’t a clue how to raise their children properly? That too is timeless. Reading Jane Austin’s Persuasion I came across this too, too cute passage (nb. Mary is Mrs Charles Musgrove, her sister is Miss Anne and her mother-in-law is Mrs Musgrove):

Mary’s declaration was, “I hate sending the children to the Great House, though their grandmamma is always wanting to see them, for she humours and indulges them to such a degree, and gives them so much trash and sweet things, that they are sure to come back sick and cross for the rest of the day.” – And Mrs Musgrove took the first opportunity of being alone with Anne, to say, “Oh! Miss Anne, I cannot help wishing Mrs Charles had a little of your method with those children. They are quite different creatures with you! But to be sure, in general they are so spoilt! It is a pity you cannot put your sister in the way of managing them. They are as fine healthy children as ever were seen, poor little dears, without partiality; but Mrs Charles knows no more how they should be treated! – Bless me, how troublesome they are sometimes! – I assure you, Miss Anne, it prevents my wishing to see them at our house so often as I otherwise should. I believe Mrs Charles is not quite pleased with my not inviting them oftener; but you know it is very bad to have children with one, that one is obliged to be checking every moment; ‘don’t do this, and don’t do that;’ – or that one can only keep in tolerable order by more cake than is good for them.”

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