Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1881-07-21
Children at the Table.

aIllpuO lu- anu NAei1'S'
of English society the practice of $50
lating children from the general family
life is much in vogue. They have their
nurses and governesses, are kept much
in the open 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 the children. The little ones
have their full amount of sleep, and eat
by themselves and not 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 the lower classes.
A 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 to 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 at least
"a do the upper English classes. Yet
to have child's table is far from being
the American stvle. Some sensible
fathers and mothers. while permitting
their little ones at the same table as
themselves, do restrict them to palmer
food; and demand OF them quiet de-
meanor while in the breakfast or dining
room. TO strictly carry out this system
requires vigilance on the part OF the
parent. and no little self-denial on that
of the child. To be constantly watch
ing the movements of little folks will
more or less break up che harmony of
the meal, and to place palatable food
before child. OF which it may not par
take, Is a frequent cause of demands
and concessions annoying in the ey-
IRENE This can be avoided b. having
the children served in the nursery a
half hour or more before the family
meal. and if it is impracticable to hire
attendants, the mother herself can sit at
their table and serve them.
Possibly this arrangement might serve
rs 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 becoming
somewhat stilted, and the element of
reverence is fast becoming eliminated
from the typical American character.
Children ought to be children. and
not miniature men and women. and iso-
lation tends TO keep them so. Even at
their own table their manners should be
carefully watched. and all tendencies to
III Il
checked.
If impossible or undesirable. for any
reason, 10 make this family arrange
ment, then the children's place and
rights and the family table should be
carefully respected. and quiet, re-
spectful department insisted upon
Bibs are all but essary for little
folks. They should be large and tie
about the neck with tapes. Brown or
white linen of coarse texture make
seryiceable ones. or they can be made
of bingham.
Cereals, milk and fruit should form
large share of their food, though there
are exceptional cases in which meat in
considerable quantity may be eaten
with beneii: by the child. Fresh berries
or canned or stewed fruit is always
preferable to preserved. and sweet
baked apples invaluable. Simply
cooked oaten meal, wheaton grits,
hominy. rice. etc. and plenty of milk
in sufficient quantity to satisfy hunger
should never be denied growing
child. To one whose appetite has not
become perverted, the wants or desires |
for food may be safe Y consulted. both !
as to quality and quantity. Habit will |
usually engender a regularity of ap-
petite. vet plate OF graham crackers |
and some fruit placed on side table, |
and permission given to the child to
partake of if very hungry. is not alto
gether a bad plan. And. judiciously |
trained. a child will not abuse the |
privilege. Christian az I0rk.