Letter LVII

Summary

Dear Sir,

Mr. Locke gives a great many very pretty Instructions relating to the Playgames of Children; but I humbly presume to think what he says, in one or two Places, a little objectionable.

He would not indulge them in any Playthings, but what they make themselves, or endeavour to make. “A smooth Pebble, a Piece of Paper, the Mother's Bunch of Keys, or any thing they cannot hurt themselves with,” he rightly says, “serves as much to divert little Children, as those more chargeable and curious Toys from the Shops, which are presently put out of Order, and broken.”

These Playthings may certainly do well enough, as he observes, for little ones: But, methinks, to a Person of easy Circumstances, as the making these Toys imploys the industrious Poor, the buying them for the Child might be dispens’d with, tho’ they were easily broken; and especially as they are of all Prices, and some less costly, and more durable, than others.

“Tops, Gigs, Battledors,”Mr. Locke observes, “which are to be used with Labour, should indeed be procur’d them—not for Variety, but Exercise: But if they had a Top, the Scourge-stick and Leather-strap should be left to their own making and fitting.”

But may I presume to say, That whatever be the Good Mr. Locke proposes by this, it cannot be equal to the Mischief Children may do themselves in making these Playthings? For must they not have Implements to work with? And is not a Knife, or other edg’d Tool, without which it is impossible they can make or shape a Scourge-stick, or any of their Playthings, a fine Instrument in a Child's Hands? This Advice is the Reverse of the Caution warranted from all Antiquity, That ‘tis dangerous to meddle with edg’d Tools: And I am afraid, the Tutor must often act the Surgeon, and follow the Indulgence with a Styptick and a Plaister; and the young Gentleman's Hands might be so often bound up, that it might indeed perhaps be one way to cure him of his earnest Desire to play; but I can hardly imagine any other Good that it can do him: