The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1886-03-12

A sLATE-PENCIL DIET.
what Il beautiful complexion and
what lovely teeth that little girl hast!
exclaimed one lady to another i'm IN
East Boston horse-car the other day.
Just opposite, says the Boston Post,
sat the young miss whose skin and teeth
were the object of this complimentary
allusion. Her hair was fair. her bright
blue eyes sparkled with youthful fire,
her ruddy cheeks had color no cos
metic or powder could initiate, her skin
was as clear and smooth as an alabaster
statue, and as q charming smile played
about her mouth her beautiful teeth
looked like pearls in a setting OF coral.
"Oo you know what makes that girls
teeth and complexion SO lovelyeH asked
the reporters companion.
Nothing but remarkable health.
was the reply 'Shc looks the very pic
ture of it.
Very true: but can let you into n
| little secret That girl goes 10 the
Adams school in East Boston. and I'M
doubtedly she. like many of her school
mates, eats slatc-pcncils and chalk to
beautify her complexion and give her
teeth that peculiar wilderness.
On the following day the reporter met
one of the Adams school misses, with
whom he had slight acquaintance,
and at once put one or two leading
questions. The young lady talked very
freely regarding the subject of in
quiry.
..Why, bless you.'' said she. '.that's
nothing new. Why. all the girls do it
that is, all the girls who want to have
lovely compilations and adorable teeth
like the heroine in the novels.
..Do you eat pencils?''
BLESS YOU, yes: and lots of them. and
chalk, too
How much do you cat?"
81 couldn't tell. We eat them most of
the time. s'pose | eat two or three
slate-pencils every day, and | guess a
piece of chalk. too; and the other girls
| eat as much rs do"
docs it really have the effect you de-
sirep'
well, Just look at me- exclaimed
| the pert young miss, striking an atti-
tude, tossing her head back and display
ing a set of teeth of immaculate white
ness and regularity, while the blush up
on her cheek made her skin more TO be
admired than ever by reason of the con-
trast.
The result of IN investigation was the
establishment Of the fact that the prac-
tice is very comuono in the schools
throughout the city.
A leading physician, TO whom the
reporter applied for information, said:
The custom is not new, though it has
increased to a very unfortunate extent
of late years. So far aS the effect OF
slate-pencil and chalk is concerned.
there is no immediate danger to the con-
sumner, though it is Il practice to be
thoroughly discouraged. II is. of course.
merely foolish. schoolgirl vagary,
founded OH a misconception of facts.
Slate-pencils and chalk will no more eff
feet the teeth or the complexion than
wood or paper. They are substance,
wholly foreign to the system. and are OF
course thrown of i'm the natural way
Of course. If consumed to great excess,
they would upset the stomach. The
habit is most pernicious one. and every
effort should be made by teachers and
parents to break il up.
"How do you account. doctor. fol
the fact that the girls addicted TO this
habit really have nice teeth and com
plexions?'
'Merely a coincidence If YOU were
to examine each individual one you
would certainly find many exceptions IL
rule that YOU establish from Il limited
examination. The girls whom You have
seen undoubtedly take excellent care OF
} their teeth in the usual ways. and the,
are naturally healthy and the fortunat,
pOssessors of n clear complexion. o.
course. they ascribc il, in their ignor
ance, TO this habit. hut that's all non.