Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1881-03-10
The fartu aud fireside,
SELFISHNESS AT THE TABLE.

Among the small things Whlch, II not
checked, would prove life long annoyances,
none are more conspicuous or more disagreea-
BILE than the rude, boorish, selfish habits so
frequently developed in the conduct of chill
dren at the table. Here, as in all that is con-
nected with the early training and education
of children, parents should realize that they
will be held accountable, in large measure,
if those committed to their care and guidance
grow up with careless and reprehensible tn.
BILE manners.
If parents commence in season, it is not
hard to teach any child old enough to be
brought to the table (and that should be as
soon as they can be taught to feed themselves,
if only with spoon, we think to be quiet,
and wait patiently until the older ones are
served, instead of allowing the child to call
for its portion the moment it is seated, and, if
d>layed, demand something vociferously, en-
phasizing its wishes in loud screams and vio-
lent blows on the table and dishes. If this
mode of gaining its own way is attempted,
and the parent removes the little tyrant from
the table for short season Of private admo'
milton, the discipline will be found ef6cacious,
and will not require repeating often. Of
course, this will in errupt for few moments
the pleasant harmcny which should be the
crowning pleasure of each meal, but it will
not recur often, and is small price to pay
for the comfort and honor of having our
children become well-mannered, pleasant, ta'
ble.companions.
Neither would We advocate bringing very
young children to the table when one has
company. That would not be courteous OF
respectful to the guests. But when only the
family are present we think the earlier chill
dren are taught to sit at the table with pa
rents, brothers, and sisters, and behave prop
erly. the more surely they will secure good
refined table manners.
1t is not difficult to teach a very young
child to make it's wants quietly known to the
proper person and at the proper time. Bu
what can be more uncomfortable and annoy
ing than to sit at the table where the chill
dren, from the oldest to the youngest, are the
dominant power, never waiting patiently fol
their turn to be helped, but calling loudly
for whatever they desire, impatient if it IL
not brought to them on the instant? 1t at
tention is not given as soon as the words are
out of his mouth. how unpleasant to see 6
child standing upon the rounds of the chair
or reaching over other plates to help himsel
to whatever he desires! Parents can, witt
very little trouble 10 themselves, save thei
guests from witnessing such rudeness if they
begin when every habit is yet uniformed.
As soon as child can speak, he can b'
taught to ask for what he needs in gentle
respectful manner when requiring services o
the nurses, or the waiter, as we'll as of hi
parents and snperiors. please push my
chair up closer" please give me some wa
ter" "Please pass the bread" And wher
the request is complied with, accept it and
say, "Thank you" What hardship is there
in requiring this from children just beginning
to talk, as we'll as from older lads and las
sizes? 1t will require but very few repetition'
of the lesson for the youngest to understand
that it is the onl y way by which their wishes
will be complied with; and it is surprising
to see how soon this mode of calling atten
tion to their wants becomes as easy and natu
raj as breathing. Parents are culpable who dc
not give their children the advantage Of such
instruction and enforce it until they have NJ
idea of asking in any other way.
And yet how many give no heed to thi'
duty. How many hear their young charges
calling impatiently or arrogantly: "Givt
me the butter, Jane!'' Pass the bread thi
way" "Cant YOU hear, Jane ?" "Ive tolc
you two or three times to give me some wa
ter" Or some may soften their imperiou'
demands little by saying: "I'll take the
bread, please or "hand me the salt, Jane
please;" but the "please" is too far off to bt
very pleasant 1t seems an after thought
Whispering, loud talking, abrupt calls fol
any article on the table, beginning to eat OF
calling to be helped the moment seated, be
fore the oldest are served, is, in the highes
degree, rude and vulgar, yet by far too com
mon. Some natural feeling of restraint OF
dfidence may keep the young more quie
when at friends table, for part of the meal
at least but they cannot lay claim to refine
ment or good manners if they use politenes:
only when among strangers-keep it laid away
like new garment, to be put on occasional
ly, and to be thrown off as speedily as pos
sible, because, not being in habitual use, il
becomes irksome.
Many other habits creep in and find per
manent lodgment if the parents are no
watchful of their children's behavior at thu
table. Picking the teeth handling the hair
carrying food to the mouth while leaning
back in the chair; rocking or tilting the
chair back and forth while eating; filling the
mouth too full eating rapidly and with much
noise. from the lips sitting with elbows or
the table-all thesc, and multitude equally
vul gar, can be met by careful mother
vigilance before they have time to take deeE
root, but if neglected will stamp child with
coarseness and vulgarity no matter how exal
ted the station he was born into.
To WASH FLANNEL WITHOUT SHRINK
process, made artifcially so if necessary, and
next have good soap, or that which does MOI
contain rosin. Our best soaps are made fol
this purpose. You may wash and rinse en-
tirely in cold water if you choose, but if you
wash in warm water you must rinse in cold
1t is decidedly best to use only warm water
all through, the rinsing water warmer than the
suds, if there is any difference. 1t is best tc
make good, strong, clean suds (and moi
wash nice white fannels in dirty suds with
other clothes that ere boiled,) and put the
fannels in it, inste,.d of rubbing soap into the
cloth. Hand rubbing tends to full and
shrink flannel, as it mats and interlaces the
delicate 6bres
GNATs.-We know of no better way to
expel gnats than to let little smoke escape
in the room. My brothers used to build fire
in an old pan and sit near it on summer even
ings, when these little torments would leave
that part of the lawn in haste. To rid the