The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-07-01
HOUSEHOLD NOTES.
MRS 8. A. NETTLES.

Manners AT MEAL-TIME.-Our meals
should not only serve to satisfy our
hunger but should be made occasions
of social enjoyment. Physicians tell
us that food is far more nourishing
and digestible when eaten amid cheer
full conversation. Silence and gloom
spoil the choicest Wand, while jarring
words are still worse. Therefore let
us Danish every unpleasant topic
from the everything that can
annoy, excite, or occasion cortrover-
sy, and let us Systematically cultivate
cheerful and pleasant table-talk.
There is no place where character
and breeding show more plainly than
at the table. A vulgarian might more
successfully conceal his ill-breeding
anywhere else than at the table. We
may form pretty shrewd guess as to
the daily life and surroundings of a
person by watching him narrowly at
the table. You can, for instance, cas-
lily Judge whether he has been accus-
toned to home or hotel life. If the
latter, he will probably 60 ahead with
his meal, unconcerned about any one
else, helping himself to whatever may
be near him, without a thought of Of
fering it to any one else. In home
life, on the contrary, we are trained
to consider the wants of others, at the
table and elsewhere, and to feel de-
gree of responsibility about them;
and those who are thoroughly imbued
with the spirit of home life do not
lose this feeling entirely, even in pub
lie places and amid strangers.
Every housekeeper has right to
insist that the members of her family
shall promptly obey the summons to
meals, else she will undergo great an
noyance, loss of time, and derange-
ment of her domestic routine. The
food, too, loses much of its excellence
by standing, and getting cold and
stale. No matter how deeply you
may be interested in any pursuit, how
much absorbed in any book, go
promptly to the table when meals are
announced, even if you leave the hero
and heroine at the most critical point
of the story.
Children should be required to OBJ
serve the rules of neatness and court
esy at their meals In this way only
can you secure quiet and orderly
meals, and send forth your children
into the world with refined table man
ners. Boys, being naturally rough and
turbulent, need stricter watching and
drilling than girls. Insist on their
sitting squarely on their chairs, in
stead of sideways and crooked, as
they so much prefer doing. Make
them pull up their chairs in front of
their plates, use their knives and forks
properly, keep their elbows off the ia
ble, and be careful not to spill things.
I have seen. persons flee with dread
from seat next to half-grown boys
and girls whose parents had neglected
the table drill I have indicated above.
These children not only stuck their
elbows into other people, but "scat-
tered plenty" not over "a smiling
land" but frowning neighbor, spill
ing soup, gravy, and other articles on
the clothes of the ill-fated persons
who sat next to them. If we careful
ly train our children in the courtesies
Of the table, we not only improve
their manners, but assist in their
moral training. For instance, when
we train them to sit quietly in their
places, awaiting their turn to be serv- {
ed, we are teaching them a lesson in
the great art of waiting and exercis- :
ing patience, and this lesson will
prove of priceless value, in later life,
and in weightier matters. Then they
have opportunities at the table to
learn many lesson of consideration :
and unselfshness toward others.
We enjoy our meals far more If our
ayes are gratiGed in addition to our
palate. It is highly important to :
have neatly set and tasteful-looking
,sble; and every woman may DO this,
nowadays, when table-linen and table
ware may be procured on such reason
able terms. But the crowning orna-
nent of the table should be, whenev-
er practicable, a glass of flowers. i
1laddened by their fragrance, and s
,heered by pleasant and entertaining
conversation, our meal times will
serve to refresh both mind and
sody.-Mary " EARLY.
CLEAR OMELEr.-Beat eight eggs
Until very light and thick; add a sea-
;oning of salt and pepper, and pour ,
nto a very hot buttered spider. \
When partly set place on the top
,rate of the oven and let it brown
slightly. Serve Immediately. This
S often better liked than those con-
aiming -four and milk.
EGes AND CREAM-Break eight eggs
n deep earthen pie dish, salt and !
pepper, and add a few dabs of butter.
Cover all with one-half a cupful of $
;ream and bake twenty minutes IN a
moderate oven. They are delicious.
HUNGER rs THE BEST SAUCE"
AS rule, person who has good appe- ,
ite has good health But how many there
lown to meals only as aa unpleasant duty.