The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1860-11-02
TABLE MANNERS.

"'So W SHtiNiSu COtIlS 10 INC laOlo,
only to fret and crowl, aud complain, and
sulk. 1t is horrible to think Of. And vet
it may ho presumed that the happiness Of
quite as excellent wives is marred, if no.
wholly eaten out, by husbands who come to
the table with terrible dignity, or with
seliishness so predominant that it places
everybody else and everything under tribute
to It's supreme qualification; moroseness
stamped on every feature; beli,tling
qucrulonsness in every uttered sentence.
Here one comes now as stately as n turkey
cock, rs cross as bear, and % corncub.
He speaks in short, crusty words the in
nocent prattle Of his children is all apparent
torture TO him; there must not be whitn.
per or a whisper, for he is poring over
newspaper, or IN the midst of some plan or
project for gain or fame. His very pre-.
sence is felt as a cloud, an incubus, an ice
berg; and there is only gladness when lie
is gone; it is then only tia the sunshine
OF family affection and love comes out, and
tilial and mo'herly sympathies swell up
from loving hearts.
To meet at the breakfast table, father.
mother, children, all well, ought 10 be a
happiness to any heart it should be
source Of humble gratitude, and should
wake up the warmest feelings Of our nature
Shame upon the contemplate and low bred.
cur, whether parent or child, that can ever
come to the breakfast table, where all the
family have met in health, only to frown,
whine, and growl, and fret! 1t is rrima
tacic evidence Of a mean, and groveIiug,
and selfish, and degraded nature, whcnceso-
ever the churl may have sprung. Nor is.
it less reprehensible TO make such exhibi.
tions at the t-a-table; for before the NOR
ming comes, some Of the little circle may
be stricken with some deadly disease, 10
gather around that table not again forever!
Children in good health, if left to them
selves at the table, become, after few
mouthsiul, garruous and noisy; but if
within at all reasonable or bcarable bounds
it is better to let them aloue; they eat less,
because they do not eat SO rapidly as if
compelled TO keep silent, while the very
exhllcratiou Of spirits ouickens the crcula-
tion Of the vital fluids, and energies digcs-
tion and assimilation.
The extremes Of society curiously meet
III this regard. The tables Of the rich and
the mobiles Of England are models Of mirth
wit and bonhommie; it takes hours to get
through repast, and they live long. If
anybody will look in upon the negroes of
'wcIlto-do family in Kentucky, wbfssa at
their meals, they cannot bnt be impressed
with the perfect abandon of their jabber,
cachination and mirth it seems assif they
could talk all day, and they live long. 1t
follows, theaaeirat at the family table all
should meet and do it babi,ualIy, 10 make
a common Interchange Of highbred cour-
tesics, of warm affections, of cheering mir
thfnness, and that generosity of nature,
WHICH lifts us above the brutes which per-
ish, promotive as these things are of good
digestion, high health, and long life.
CLEANLINEss.-C the dirtiness of
the water in which you have washed when
it is cold without soap, cold with soap, hot
with soap. You will find the first has
hardly removed any dirt at all, the second
little more, and the third great deal
more. But hold your hand over cup of
hot water minute or two, and then, by
merely rubbing with tle finger, you will
bring off flakes Of dirty skin. After va
por bath you may peel your whole self
Clean in this way. What mean is. that
BY simply washing or sponging with water
you do not really clean your skin. Take
rough towel, dip one corner in very hot
water-if little spirit be added to it, it
will be lfore effectnal--and then rub as if
you were rubbing Tie towel into your skin
with your fingers. The black flakes which
come off will convince you that you were
not clean before, however much soap and
water you may have used. Tbese fakes
are what require remoxipg. And you can
really keep yourself clevner with tumbler
full Of hot water and a rough towel and
rubbing, than with whole apparatus Of
bath and spand sponge without rubbing.
Eais quits nonssnse 70 say that anybody
need be dirty. Patients have been kept a.
clean BY tbesssnnsats on long Voyage,
when = basiu fdfr Il wafer could not be
afforded. and when they could not be
moved out.of their berths, as if alt the ap-
purtepahces OF home, had been at <hana.--
Washing, however, with q; large quantity |
Of water, has quite other effects than those
Of mere cleannesss rhsskin absorbs the
water ahd'beeome more seft and more per. |
spirsble. to wash sitli sap andssolt wa.l
taris. therefore. dessiable frou, otha.