The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1882-08-19
TOWSONTOWN, Md, SATURDAY, AUGUST 10, 1882
THE ATMOSPHERE or THE TABLE.

II is impossible to estimate properly
the immense influence which is exerted
upon a household by the atmosphere
Of the family table. If it is true that
one does not come out Of a room the
same person he went in, the mind ever
after retaining the impress Of what af-
fectcd il there, what great results must
be achieved from the meeting three times
a day in the dining room, from the con-
versation indulged in, and the scnti-
ments habitually expressed there. A
neat, well.ordered table is in itself
lesson to children, have noticed
that sensitive child almost invariably
has better manners when dressed in his
best, and have seen with surprise the
effect produced upon a certain small
boy Of my acquaintance by handsomely
dressed ladies who are polite to him.
Tothe inviting table, where there should
be always something attractive however
simple the meal may be, most children
will come prepared to behave properly.
At this table the mother will not take
her scat with disordered hair and soiled
collar, remarking, with the air Of mar
tyr, that il is the first time she sat down
to-day. The head Of the house, il the
dinner is not exactly to his mind, will
not resent it as personal affront, and
il he does, not like Grandfather Small
weed audibly ask to be "obleedged with
the teapot or the chair cushion" to
those will make his displeasure felt about
as forcibly. II really is worth while,
and when philosophically considered is
n matter OF great importance, to lay
aside rs far as possible all thoughts Of
the hard work done before and to be
done after a meal, and to allow no vex-
ations to be discussed at this time. The
habit OF brooding over our work and
exhausting ourselves by going it all over
in our minds is one to be studiously
avoided. There is nothing which takes
from ones energy more than this, and
It's frequent cause Of insanity. Every
body knows tina, food digests better
when eaten in agreeable company. II
was something more than a pleasantly
which made friend remark that he
could not have his wife and child pass
the Summer vacation away from him, Is
it gave him dyspepsia. The poor child
who comes to grief at the table, and is
sent away from it with his dinner half
eaten, and who suffers the whole after
noon with an undigesicd lump OF food
in his stomach, is to be pitied, and it is
a wise plan to explain 10 the children
that in this way they will be punished
for bad conduct a, the table. II follows,
then, that pleasant surprises in the way
Of preparing favorite dishes, that good
taste and much painstaking in arranging
all the appointments OF the table and
dining room, rise above 4 mere minis
tering TO the animal existence, and az
fects the fine issues OF life. Good be-
havior and cheerfulness ought TO accom-
pany each meal as naturally and unvary-
ingly as bread and butter. The happy
laughter which distributes nervous force,
and calls the blood from the brain, al
lowing the stomach to get the share,
should be heard more frequently at our
tables. No one should feel at liberty
to say one word which is not at least
kind and thoughtful any more than he
would withhold 4 sufficient quantity Of
food. These facts need more careful
consideration than they have usually
received