Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1873-10-16
Ghildreu's department.
.Origiilal.]
LEARNING TO EAT.


the manner in which civilized people eat ii
very different from that in which savages anc
people of little refinement eat. Perhaps there
are no two things which so clearly indicate
refined training as the manner in which W.
eat, and the kind of language we use in com
mon conversation. Some savage tribes dc
not have anything that corresponds with the
table of civilized nations. They have nc
knives and forks, no spoons, no cups ano
saucers, no plates. Their food is not even, ii
many instances, cooked, and when prepared
it is let remain in the pot or in whatever ii
may have been cooked. Each individual
goes to the pot, and with his hand takes out
supply. They have no meal time; but
each individual eats when his appetite Graves
food.
Amongst civilized nations, there are great
many little implements which are used by
persons when eating. Custom has established
certain modes for the proper use of these i'm
plements. The knife and fork must be used
in certain way. To violate this rule is an
indication of rude training. The proper use
of the knife is to cut. 1t should be taken in
the right hand, except by those persons who are
naturally left handed. 1t should be taken
hold of in a certain manner. The handle
should be wholly under the hand; but not
grasped as hand spike is grasped. The fore
finger and thumb should be placed on oppo'
site sides of the handle near where the blade
is inserted, and the end of the handle be made
to rest upon the edge of the palm of the hand
about midway between the wrist and where
the little finger is inserted. The use of the
fork is to convey the food from the plate to
the mouth 1t should be taken hold of in the
same manner as the knife. So soon as the
food is cut up, lay the knife down on the
plate, take the fork, and with it feed yourself
The design of the spoon is to enable us to
eat such articles of food as the fork will not
lift from the plate The handle of the spoon
should be held in the same way that the knife
and fork are held. The spoon should never
be brought to the mouth end foremost. The
contents of the spoon should be poured into
the mouth from the side. tits very unre6ned
to put the spoon, or any part of it in the
mouth.
At table, children should sit up straight
and never take any article from the table.
If at any time an article of food is handed
them which they do not wish, they should not
turn up their noses and say in snarling way,
81 do not like that" Let them say politely,
81 thank you, would not take any" If a
dish is handed them which they are very fond
of, they ought not to help themselves so lib
orally as if they were afraid they would not
get enough. We once were acquainted with
a family of five boys and two girls, which
acted very rudely. As soon as the father
commenced asking blessing on the meal,
each child seized fork, and as soon as the
"Amen" was heard, each made rush for his
particular dish. Sometimes it so happened
that all were fond of the same dish, and on
such occasions, they made as much fuss and
confusion as so many hungry hogs.
The proper place to learn to eat is at home.
Children that act rudely at table at home will
act rudely away from home. The proper
time to learn to eat "nice" is in childhood.
The child that contracts the habit Of holding
its knife as it would an AK handle, will do the
same thing when grown.
THE FATAL BLow.-Two brothers quar-
relied. Both were in passion. One struck
the other in his rage and killed him Think
of it!
The boy did not mean to do it. He did
not think he had struck hard. Alas for
both
In moment he relented. All the anger
went out of his soul in one blow of his fist as
the stroke of lightning exhausts the electricity
in the cloud. But that one blow killed the
object of his wrath-his own brother.
Then he fell upon the dead body, caressing,
crying, calling, kissing; but in vain. He had
killed his brother!
At the coroner's inquest the father of the
two boys was called to the witness-stand. AS
he took his place all noticed on his face a
silly, senseless grin. He had suddenly be-
come maniac.
O, human anger, how terrible demon thou
art Boys, have you cast it out of you, or
are you yet fostering it?
A LITTLE HERo.-A gentleman, while
passing through street in New York, heard
a chld's voice from basement, crying,
"Help! helpw He ran in, and found little
FIVE year old boy holding a bedblanket around
his sister, two years younger, who had caught
her clothes on fire, and the little hero had
succeeded in putting out the flames. The
boy, in answer to the question why he wrap
ped the bed.banket around his sisters burn
ing clothes, said his ma had told him that
was the best way to put out fire, and as to
why he cried "Help! help~ that he was
afraid he could not do it, and wanted some
one to help. He was then asked why he did
not leave his sister, and run into the street,
and cry for help. He answered with tears
in his eyes, "No, L never would have left her.
She was my sister. Had she burned up, |
would have burned too"
A SWEET ASswER.-A little boy and girl,
each FIVE years old, were playing by the road
side. The boy became angry at something,
and struck his playmate sharp blow on the
cheek, whereupon she sat down and began to
cry.
The boy stood looking ON a minute, and
then said:
Il didn't mean to hurt you, Katie. l am
sorry"
The little girls face frightened instantly.
The sobs we're hushed, and she said:
"Well, if you are sorry, it don't hurt me. "