Osage Valley banner. (Tuscumbia, Miller County, Mo.) 1879-1881, 1881-07-21
Chlldren at the Table.

-~ VA
Among the upper and middle classes
Of English society the practice OF iso-
lating children from the general family
life Is much in vogue. They have their
nurses and govornesses, are kept much
in the omen air, and spend more time
In the country than in the city. What
ever dissipation the London season may
bring to their elders, the effects do not
reach tho children. The little ones
have their full amount Of sleep, and cat
by themselves aud notw with the family,
while their food is palmer than that
upon the tables OF their fathers and
mothers. TO some extent this custom
reaches to tho lower CLASSES.
Al German child, on the contrary, sits
or stands at the table with his elders
and consumes his full share Of food and
drink, while frequently very little at
tention is paid 10 decOrous manners
A few American families, who have.
wealth sufficient to afford a large reti-
nue. Of servants, accustom their chill
dren TO the same table habits as least
as do the upper English classes. Yet
to have a child's table is far from being
the American style. Some sensible
fathers and mothers, while permitting
their little ones at the same table as
themselves, do restrict them to palmer
iOO4f LiAA AGAAhahtNA u IhNlA a 1hENN "a y
meanor whilein the breakfast or dining
room To strictly carry out this system
requires vigilance on the part of the
parent, and no little self.denil on that
of the child. To be constantly watch
inp the movements of little folks will
more or less break up the harmony OF
the meal, and to place palatable food
before a child. of which It may not par
take, is a frequent cause of demands
SEQ and concessions annoying in the ex-
treme. This can be avoided By having
the children served ia the nursery a
half hour or moro before the family
meal, aud if it is impraeticable 10 hire
attendants, the mother herself can sit at
their table aud serve them.
Possibly this arrangement might serve
as an aid to check the rampant growth
of Young Americanism," of which we
hear so much. Such a suggestion will
Undoubtedly shock many excellent
parents. who firmly believe in little
ladies and little gentlemen. But old
heads on young shoulders are so much
the fashion that the style is b becoming
somewhat stilied, and the element Of
reverence is fast becoming eliminated
from the typical American character.
Children ought to be children, and
not miniature men ard women, and iso-
lation tends to keep them so. Even at
their own table their manners should be
carefully watched. and all tendencies to
greediness or nl-temper quickly
checked.
If impossible or undesirable, for auy
reason, 10 make this family arrange
ment, then the children's place and
rights and the family table should be
carefully respected. and4a quiet, re-
GtNaotfpl tlntAOrf ~ On snufsfal ta.u.p
Bibs are ali but necessary for little
folks. They should be large and tie
about the neck with tapes. Brown or
white linen of coarse texture make
serviceable ones, or they can be made
of bingham,
large share OF their food, though there
are, exceptional cases in which meat in
considerable quantity may be eaten
with benefit by the child. Fresh berries
or canned or stewed fruit is always
preferable to preserved, and sweet
baked apples invaluable. Simply
cooked oaten meal, wheaten grits,
hominy, rice, ETC., and plenty of milk
in sufficient quantity to satisfy hunger
should never be denied a growing
child To one whose appetite has not
become perverted, the wants or desires
ioi lou may De SSteiy cOhsulteu, DObn
as to quality and quantity. Habit will
usually engender a regularity of APP
petite, yet a plate of graham crackers
and some fruit placed on a side.table,
and permission given to the child to
partake of ii very hungry, is not alto
gether a bad plan: And, judiciously
trained, q child will not abuse the
privilege Christian at Work
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Fyuft.