The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1877-02-15

surely as unwholesome as IL is disagreea
bic to all present 10 have the head Of tb'
house sit with absorbed look, eating as ]
for a wager, and impatiently watching
the servant hand around and clear away
he dishes. i am one Of five sufferin,
wives, who never eat our dinner without
feeling that we are taking time from
some business which our husbands Ions
to return to. We have therefore resolv
ed TO appeal TO you to address from your
editorial chair these. men who are seek
ing dyspepsia and making our temperl
sour by the trying ordeal OF dinner.
IL any word of ours could arrest 80 su
icidal a course on the part Of any Of our
readers, our petitioners may be sure that
il would be spoken with all emphasis
But here's the rub: the evil complained
OF is in many cases one Of habit, and not
amenable TO correction through reason
in more cases, probably, il is one Of ne
cessity, uhder conditions for which the
offender is not morally responsible; very
rarely, we fear, is il the result Of def.
cient OF defective information. And
since we know nothing OF the circum-
stances of the present case. any sugges-
ton We may make must necessarily be Of
the most general character, as likely 10
miss as to hit.
For example, we might enlarge upon
the honors Of dyspepsia, its disastrous
induerce upon character, its power to
acidify and eclipse all the sweetness and
light Of living, even where il does not
put a end to life outright: only TO re-
ceive the crushing reply from 1--WE, or FIVE
thousand, suffe ing husbands: I'VE
know all that, probably as well as you do.
Bat how can we help ourselves2 II we
were independent of the duties and res
possibilities Of active life, we might, and
certainly would, very gladly eat our din
ners with leisurely enjoyment; but the
demand upon our tile and thoughts are
such that we cannot do as we would we
are parts Of a great machine, and are
driven to sacrifice our pleasure, our
health. may be: and possibly. what we
regret still more, the good temper Of our
wives, because Of the rights and require
ments Of those with whom we have TO do
business"
This is very largely the case where
dinner is eaten before the days work Is
done. And when il comes in the even
ing physical fatigue and nervous ex-
from the conflicts Of the day
are not unseldom equally fatal TO the so
cial enjoyment Of dinner IL is easy TO
say that men should lay aside their bust
ness schemes and anxieties at such
time, and we admit that IL Is both the
moral and the physiological duty OF men
10 try 10 do so still men, as q rule. have
not yet reached a stage Of moral develop
nent at which duty perceived Is equiva-
ent to duty done. When the penalty
or wrong doing is apt to be indefinitely
deferred, as in the case Of silent and
nasty eating. and when the reward for
'ight-doing is not always Immediately
apparent, right-doing is likely to depend
ipon incidental conditions; and here the
ruth compels US to observe that the la
lies are often quite as much TO blame as
he gentlemen for the unsocial and un-
anitary habits Of eating which the latter
% frequently acquire.
For our own part, we approve OF the
morning paper at breakfast. Generally
{ is the only means Of securing deliber
tie eating at that hour. IL is easy
,nough for those who have little to do TO
.nioy a social breakfast at ten or eleven
'clock in the morning; but eaTlier-and |
specially If the battle of business is 10 |
oilow at once-humanity is not social. |
nd conversation, except with regard to /
uG nEhcf - AAA 0AA H09HAAAAa I
he morning paper therefore is in most |
ases not only a sanitary brake upon the |
avs at breakfast, but a real blessing to |
he family as well as to the readers /
tomacI.
At the midday meal, business is press
ng and tirle brief As a rule, whatel en-
business man It's at such a time IIust /
e taken hurriedly. The effect is bad, il /
, true; but it is a choice of evils. either |
0 eat quickly or 90 without. For this |
eason il is, whenever possible, the Gus.
ON to take the main meal Of the day /
fter the business hours are over. IL is 4
nth reference to this meal, we take il. 4
hat the just protest against haste and 4
Hence has been uttered.
The pestilent he. esy, moral as well as
anitary, that it is unbecoming an i'm
no. tai being to enjoy his dinner is well /
Ugh extinct; we trust the once preva-
pnt insanity Of selfimmolation upon the |
liar of business push and worry is also |
wing out. Active men are learning that /
he human machine can be run to death: /
hat moderation pays best in the long /
un; and that no time is more wickedly |
sasted than that which is unduly saved |
n from the hours of rest and recreation |
in the latter the dinner hour |
A the scientific code of conduct, delib- /
rate and enjoyable eating is one Of the |
virtues. Ii ranks with jus |
ice in the moral code. Ii is virtue. |
90, which can be, and ought TO be, cul. |
ivated by all. most Of all by those who |
re doing the worlds best work.
But, generally speaking, it is a virtue,
he cultivation of which calls for effort
IN the part of the ladies as well as self.
estraint on the part Of the gentlemen.
70 sensible man will willingly hurry
through a meal when be is keenly en-
Dying the food and its accompaniments;
md il depends chiefly upon the ladies 10
ecure such conditions at the family ta-
lie. How they can do so, il is not for us
o say. There can be no general rule for
heir attainment any more than a single
pecifc for all diseases. The special con
iitions and requirements Of each house
lold and the idiosyncracies Of its mem.
,ers must chiefly determine the course
o be pursued.
There is one point, however, a very
important point. which ladies very often
overlook. Ii is this: Civilization and
lunger are incompatible. All the virtues
md graces OF humanity-certainly OF
male humanity-fy before an empty
tomach. IL may be possible for a man
o be hungry and amiable at the same
lime, but it Is not safe for any wife TO
presume upon so unlikely an occurrence
labitually. Ignorance OF their physio-
ogical truth has been the ruin Of many
IN otherwise happy household. And we
nay set il down from both observations
md experiences-premising that our ex.
1erionce in this respect has been excep-
.ionally happy-that prepandial discre-
ion is the seyerest test OF a good wife
J Just before dinner is the worst possible
lime to bother a husband with questions
1r complaints, or even with efforts TO be
agreeable. There is the
time above all others when social silence
should grace the home, and make Il