Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-10-18
CHILDREN'S DIET.
By CHRISTINE TERHUNE HERRIcK.
ICopurilAtsd. 1885.

1cS nave sprung tutO pfODlheHCo uuAiH<
the past ten years. Physicians have
adopted the practice OF recommending
diet rather than medicine, and writer's on
domestic topics have devoted their best
powers to raising the national standard
of food, both in quality and modes OF prep
aration. In spite OF all this, the reforms
introduced have been neither radical nor
universal. There are isolated cases OF
conviction and conversion accompanied
by change of living, but as nation,
Americans still eat at express rates, de-
YOUR pie, drink ice water and cling to the
frying pan. The national dyspepsia is
yet uusubdued, and worst Of all, the
rising generation are planting their feet
in the footprints left by their fathers and
mothers.
Henry James has presented a picture of
what he evidently considers the typical
American boy in Daisy Miller's small
brother, portrait at which readers have
alternately laughed and fumed. In either
case they have been compelled to admit
that the description contained elements
OF resemblance, although they might be
oVerdrawn. The pertnees of Randolph
Miller, his total absence of respect for
parent or guardian, his candy eating pro-
pensities and various other disagreeable
traits are all familiar, though
seldom all combined in the
person of one child. For any
and all of these faults at least nine-tenths
OF the blame must rest with the father
and mother. Original sin and total de-
pravity may be negatiyed, but natural
tendency to do wrong rather than right
cannot be denied by any one who has had
much TO do with young children. This
acknowledged, it follows that it Is the
bounden duty of the guides OF the little
ones to do all they can to counteract this
disposition in order to prevent their
charges becoming intolerable to them
selves and to all about them.
In no department OF such care is close
guardianship needed more than that of
childTen's food. The casual locker on, 1t
seems sometimes in becoming mothers,
women must have parted with whatever
atoms OF common sense they once pos
sessed. Ignorant OF physiology and
hygiene though they may be, ordinary
observation and acquaintance with the
simplest laws of nature ought to teach
them something. Nevertheless, one con-
stautly sees women who, in other direc-
tIons give no evidence OF being candidates
for lunatic asylums. trifiing with the
health and life OF their offspring with a
recklessness that il applied to other and
less important m alters would seem moth
ing short of madness.
The mother Of several boys was one day
bemoaning to a visitor the fact that her
youngest, a child of 5, was subject to
summer complaint. She had been up
with him all the preceding night in an at
tack resembling cholera morbus. The
scourge of cholera was in the land at the
time, and the anxious parent sighed as
she said she knew poor little Tom would
rO nj n If OynoocA fN ha
She had hardly finished her lament when
the guest caught a glimpse of its object.
The morning was rainy one, but the
child was standing nearly knee deep in
wet grass under plum tree in the garden
eating the unripe fruit with gusto. AT
her friends exclamation of horror the
mother glanced from the window, nodded
smIlingly to the juvenile cHlprit, and said
calmly, as she resumed her seat:
81 never limit the boys in their allow
ance of fruit. They are welcome to all
they find on the ground, and the dear fell
lows enjoy it thoroughly"
Another child, girl of four, is spas
sionately fond of pickles."
at does no good to put them out of her
reach" laughs the mother. II did that
for while, but after | caught her risking
her neck balancing herselfon two chairs
and f0OtstOol to reach the jar off the top
shelf OF the pantry, l thought it would be
safer TO keep them where she could get
them without breaking any bones"
Nearly every one is acquainted with
children who are as devoted to their
strong tea and coffee as is a regular
drinker to his dram. While these beVer.
ages may be helpful in imparting tempo
rary tone and strength TO hard-worked
men and women, it Is great mistake to
permit child to begin life by over-ex-
citing his nervous system by their use.
For those who do not like milk, cold
water-nOt Jce-sh0uld be- sufficient.
ThOughtless mothers often lay the foun-
datlon for this taste by pouring a few
teaspO0nfuls OF real tea or coffee into the
child's "cambrlc tea" Far better is 1t to
have 1t understood at the outset that such
drinks are not for children, instead of
pretending TO humer whim which can
do no good Nervous digestions and tenn
pers would all be the better for the absti-
hence.
The adoption of many English fashions
that possess no Intrinsic value has been
the vogue OF late In this country. One
that is well worthy of imitation Is the
manner in which English children are
trained. The plain breakfast, the early
dinner, the simple tea would all be bene-
fetal if grated upon the American
nursery STOCK. 1HSTe are IamIll6S even
in this country where the substantial
lunch of the parent is the children's din
ner, and where the little ones do not ap-
pear at the late repast, which is the prin-
cipai meal of the day 10 their elders. In
one such home the approach of Sunday
was always heralded with delight as be-
ing the one night of the week when the
juniors were allowed to have a slice of
cold meat apiece with the milk, hominy,
bread and butter and simple jam or mar
ma AIDE that composed their usual week
day supper.
This course is not always easy to fol.
low. 1t is hard TO deny pleasures to
children even when one Is convinced they
would do more harm than good. 1t is OIL
ten mere selfish love of ease and dislike
Of a scene that actuates parents in YIELD
ing TO the pleading of the younging for
some unwholsome delicacy. The fact
once established in the child's mind that
he can get what he wants by crying for
il, his plan OF action is simple and OBJ
viOus.
The bad effects OF unlimited candy seem
too apparent 10 need enumeration. The
lack OF some means of checking the evil
Is equally clear. Even in little children
there is sometimes developed craving
for sweets that's almost Unsuitable. They
will adopt almost any plan TO get it, and
oil their spare pennies are apt TO find
their way to the confectioner's till. The
effects upon teeth and digestion are high
~ injurious. aud when strict prohl biUIon
can be enforced it IS the best remedy.