Daily Yellowstone journal. [volume] (Miles City, Mont.) 1882-1893, 1888-10-17
TO PARENTS AND TEACHERS.
A Plea In Behalf Of School Chiidren-Ths
Ailing One.

A Plea In Behalf Of School Chiidren-Ths
Ailing One.
Occasionally is encountered lad who
has grown up in our streets and success
fully eluded the truant officers. Such
one is almost always of the ''gamin" or.
der, III fed, scantily clothed and gener.
ally neglected. And yet, notwithstand-
ing the hardsbi.s implied, we find him
strong, active and "wiry." II pitted
against a country boy of his age the
chances are our city lad would ''use the
other up" All things considered it
must appear evident to those who study
the subject that because our children are
sent to school at too early an age is one
potent reason why they suffer so much
from the contrast with their country
cousins. But it is purposeless to attempt
to persuade parents to keep their little
ones out of school until it is safe to send
them. Borrowing an expression, one
might as well hope to level Gibraltar
with a crowbar. In the proper authori-
ties is our only hope of reform. They
cannot be ignorant of this grave re-
sponsibility. Reluctantly accepting the
situation. we will give mothers and
teachers few words Of practical advice
as regards their treatment Of school
children, in 40 far as pertains to health.
"Cleanliness is next to godliness. Its
importance is not always appreciated,
either by parents or children. Every
! child should have a full bath at least
once a week, whereas many in our pub
lie schools know that luxury only when
the public bathing houses are opened 10
them, which is. Of course, only in warm
weather Neglect of cleanliness propa-
gates other mean habits, and tends to de-
| Velop the beast in ones nature. IL a
child's body is continually dry he will
soon grow low ami depraved, notwith-
standing all his other influences are the
best. Let parents fix that fact in their
minds, else by that one neglect they ut
terly ruin the natures Of their children.
Those who live in humble tenements,
destitute Of bathing facilities, should call
the washing tub into service at least once
a week, and a general scrubbing Of the
\ children take place. Some mothers take
pleasure and pride in the appearance Of
their little ones; others seem positively
Indifferent whether or not their faces are
washed OF hair is ever combed. They
should see that both Is done faithfully
not only in the morning, but on going e
bed.
The character Of the clothing gener.
ally is not a matter Of dictation. We
cannot expect the children Of poor pa.
rents 10 wear "good clothes" but what
Is worn can I've clean, and there is no ex.
cuse for their being otherwise. From
this time out until school closes in the
spring, children should wear flannel next
10 the skin, and let mothers remember
that Undertaking worn during the day
must not be worn during the night while
in bed. Children, as well as adults,
must have undershirts for night wea. I,
and the one taken oil at bedtime should
be spread over q chair 30 dry and air
well A word here about the sleeping
room. Our poorer people are forced tC
content themselves with q few small
rooms, and, as a rule they are sadly
oycrrrowAed. That cannot be- helped IN
many instances, but such rooms can bc
propcrly ventilated Opon-tbrow wide
oncn-tho windows Of the bedroom d
little while before the children 60 TO bed,
and thon. when they are ready 10 un
drss, go IN and partially, but not en-
tirely, close- -thcm. Leave them open a