"A child is beset with long traditions. And his infancy is so old, so old, that the mere adding of years in the life to follow will not seem to throw it further back - it is already so far"

In this quote, Alice Meynell reflects on the weight of tradition that is positioned upon a child from the moment they are born. She suggests that even in their infancy, a child is strained with the weight of history and the expectations of those who came before them. The concept that a kid's infancy is "so old" implies that they are born into a world that is currently embeded in its ways, and their mere presence does not appear to make a significant impact. Meynell also recommends that as the kid grows and ages, their past will constantly be present, making it hard for them to break devoid of the traditions that have actually been ingrained in them considering that birth.