Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-09-09
EVENING STAR.

CAUSES oF RAD nRHAvroR.

CAUSES nF BAD BEHAVIOR.
We always rebel in spirit ~ the notice % often
eonspicuo1sly posted IN boats and hotels, "Chil-
dren not allowed ~ the first table," says the
Hearth and Home. ON principle we utter our
protest against Il, since AL well-hrcd men and
women must have been a. some period Of their
existence weil-hred boys and girls In practice,
80 iat As We have had 10 do with the rising gen
efAnen, Ne have especially trained them q pro-
per behavior 1T the, table. The table Il the so
cial center OF home. and, while eating REGARDED
SIMPLY ~ So Is not esthctie, yet around L clus-
Ter - many pleasant associations AMI - nurh
may be done 70 make It's Appointments delight
full. that the fact h that the wav they eat draw.
the ihe netNeen ,he esrearous and the civilized
people OF the earth. The gentleman Il quiet
the lady l. serene" SAYS Emerson-doe. ~
not? And IL We accept his dictum as COR
rect, how are we 90 have the finished pro-
duct unless we begin at the beginhinx-
The sauoir fdire, the nameless grace that be-
longs 10 . cultivated person, cannot be learned
rom manual OF etiquette. IL comes by de-
grees. So, madam, n Won are shocked when
your httie girl puts her knife into her mouth
and helps herself 20 berries with her own spoon.
You need not be n you have allowed her during
several years 10 cat with Bridget AZ the nursery
table. What else could You expect? Children
are reprOduction OF the world around them.
ana u 10 save yourself trouble you let that
world be made OF the ignorant aud the repul-
siNe, you reap what you have sown when Won
have harvest OF bad habits 10 uprOot and de-
stroy; 10 nlen gather grapes OF thorns9 OF hEs
OF thisiless sun. having 80 mach confessed,
we must say that very short Journey and a
very short stay at fashionable hotel Is
erough 10 lut even 50 established a faith As
ours TO pretty severe test We do not
blame the children. Far from il. Despite our
yielding credence "a the dogma that treats OF
original sin, We hold 90 Il that, naturally, chill
dren enjoy being good. They are never -
happy ss when they are obedicnt and amiable.
We think, too, that nothing Is easier than 90
have them 50, and the harsh measures 70 which
some people are quick 20 resort % that end, IL
they could see themselves with our eyes. would
seem TO them humiliatinE exhibitions of their
own weakness. Without self-control, the per
son who attempts TO control = I'D is very uke civ
TO fail lamentably. Oddly enough, the people
who never IN their lives possessed q particle OF
fitness for 30 delicate task are the very peopIe
who are possessed Of desire 20 show their mis-
management in places where it is sure 20 be
seen. Mater iamilias aud her half dozen little
ones file in to the breakfast table, where with
clamor and outcry and considerable pushing
and pulling, the latter are accommodated with
seats. Then ensues what may be described As
an intermittent skirmish. LOttie reaching for
the butter and upsetting Rates coffee cup
every one of the brood drinks coffee
and deyours pickles., and John dipping
his bread into the gravy, or screaming like
q savage because his mother intercepts
him on the way and prevents the act
My children are SO Spoiled" the poor thing
remarks, with manner half proud and half
deprecating, and the sufferers whose comfort
they have wrecked have ne difficulty in beliey-
ing her. IL good digestion wait on appetite and
appetite depend on the accessories Of not only
a well-apPointed and pslatably -dressed meal
but upon the company around the board. then
IL is a manifest truth that invalids and nervous
people at least, ii not all who are civilized even
the well and strong, should be protected from
incuTsOns of youthful barbarians. IL Is an
unpardonable thing in parents to let children
grow up ignorant of the common o0nrenGnoes of
society, and painfully awkward and rude For
their own sakes, rs well a. for those OF others,
we entreat mothers 20 notice how the little ones
behave al the table, TO get over the mistake OF
enjoying company manners. and 70 make the
prohibitOry notice unnecessary.